The forest looms ahead, dense with shadows and the hum of hidden life. Lian leads the way, Zeng following close behind, his hand rarely straying far from his sword hilt. Despite his elegant composure, there's a tautness to his posture, like a predator prowling unfamiliar terrain.
"Keep that sword sheathed unless I tell you otherwise" Lian mutters, eyes fixed on the ground. He kneels, studying a set of faint footprints that veer sharply left, disappearing into the thick undergrowth.
Zeng scowls but holds his tongue. They press on, the slap of twigs and crunch of leaves marking their passage as the forest deepens, trees crowding in to form a canopy that blocks most of the light.
Lian straightens, his gaze tracking the path ahead. "The spirit took her deeper than I expected. It's heading for the old temple ruins."
"Why would it lead her there instead of just disappearing?" Zeng asks, his voice skeptical.
"Spirits don't think like we do. It's seeking something, maybe even protection. That temple might hold a clue." Lian's gaze flicks back to Zeng.
They walk in tense silence until, after nearly an hour, they reach the edge of a clearing where a crumbling temple lies. Vines snake over old stone, shrouding carvings weathered by time. The air here feels thick, almost suffocating, as if the forest itself is holding its breath.
A faint, eerie weeping drifts from within the shadows of the temple.
Zeng's fingers tighten on his sword hilt, his jaw set. "We're close."
Lian raises a hand, silencing him with a look. He retrieves a small pouch from his belt and, with practiced ease, scatters a handful of crushed herbs around the temple entrance while murmuring an incantation. The weeping stops.
They enter cautiously, the air cool and stale with the scent of old incense. Floating mid-air, Mr. Jiang's daughter stares with unseeing eyes, her face twisted in fear and her form flickering like candlelight.
Zeng steps forward, his voice firm. "Spirit, release her!"
But the spirit barely flinches. It turns, fixing hollow eyes on them, its face twisted in anger. "Leave this place. The girl is mine."
Lian's gaze sharpens. "You don't belong here. Why bring her to this temple?"
A hollow laugh escapes the spirit. "I have no place in this world. I've lingered, waiting for a vessel to carry me home. Now, the time has come."
Zeng's fingers inch toward his sword, his voice tense. "What home?"
The spirit's gaze shifts to Zeng, and a glint of recognition darkens her eyes. "Ah, an Azure—one of those who protected me."
Zeng stiffens, caught off guard. "What are you talking about?"
Lian glances at Zeng. "The Azure Clan's history runs deep. You're carrying the weight of grudges that have festered for years."
The spirit's form intensifies, her shadowy figure pulsing with power. "Yes. And today, I will claim what was taken."
The girl's body jerks, limbs twisting at unnatural angles, her face contorted in rage. With a sudden burst of strength, she lunges at them, swift as lightning.
Zeng sidesteps, drawing his sword in a blur of silver, slicing at the spirit. But the blade passes through as if through mist.
"Physical attacks are useless on her" Lian snaps, reaching for a vial on his belt. He uncorks it, murmuring a chant, and hurls a few drops at the spirit. The liquid shimmers, splattering across the spirit and sizzling on contact, causing her to shriek and writhe.
The girl's body falls, limp, to the ground as the spirit hisses, retreating into the shadows.
"This isn't over" it snarls, its voice echoing as it dissolves into the air, leaving an eerie stillness behind.
Lian kneels beside the girl, his fingers on her neck, a flicker of realization crossing his face. "Interesting... She's alive because the spirit entered her just as she tried to end her own life. It's the only reason her body remains intact."
Zeng exhales, sheathing his sword. "You actually managed to pull that off."
Lian shrugs, a smirk on his lips. "Experience. But don't get too comfortable—this spirit is only weakened, not defeated."
Zeng's expression hardens. "Then we finish what we started."
There's a brief pause, and Zeng narrows his eyes, studying Lian. "How did you know I'm a true Azure?"
Lian raises an eyebrow, his smirk turning sly. "What do you mean?"
"You seem to know a lot about me," Zeng presses. "How did you figure it out?"
Lian's smirk deepens. "You introduced yourself as an Azure of the Royal Court earlier. It's not exactly a secret."
Zeng's gaze sharpens, but before he can respond, Lian changes the subject with a casual shrug. "Now, about that spirit... Let's wake this girl up, it might comeback. We have to get going"
Somewhere in the shadows of the forest, the spirit waits, biding its time.
YOU ARE READING
Azure Echoes.
FantasyIn a kingdom full of secrets, two unlikely allies find their paths crossing. Lian is a clever loner with a sharp mind. Zeng is a proud warrior, bound by duty. As they face outside threats and uncover the mysteries that tie them together, their diffe...
