The Mad Ҡìղց

What's done can't be undone.

The room was dimly lit by a single lantern swaying gently in the corner. Shadows danced on the walls as Cheng burst into his mother's chamber. "Mother! Mother!" he called, his voice echoing with urgency. The room was empty, the bed undisturbed, and a foreboding chill clung to the air.

His heart pounded as he turned and sprinted down the corridor, his footsteps heavy against the wooden floors. He pushed open the
door to his father's chamber. Jiang Fengmian sat on the edge of the bed, his robes slightly disheveled, a look of confusion crossing his face.

"Cheng?" Jiang Fengmian stood abruptly, startled by his son's sudden entry. "Are you alright? What's the matter?"

"Where's Mother?" Cheng asked his voice tight with worry.

Jiang Fengmian furrowed his brows. "I haven't seen her since the afternoon. What's going on?"

"We need to find her," Cheng said, panic edging his tone. "Niobe killed Yanli and her husband!" The words spilled out like venom, his fists clenched at his sides.

Jiang Fengmian froze, his eyes narrowing. "How?" he demanded, his voice low but sharp.

"Ayana," Cheng explained hurriedly. "She performed a memory spell. She nearly fainted when she saw Niobe in the vision." His voice cracked with frustration, his jaw tightening.

Jiang Fengmian's expression darkened, his face a storm of rage and resolve. "I'll chop his head off," he growled, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword resting against the wall.

The two men exchanged a glance, unspoken determination passing between them. Without another word, they rushed out into the cool night. The moon hung high, casting a pale glow over the sprawling house. The quiet hum of the cicadas felt oppressive as if nature itself was holding its breath.

Cheng led the way, his steps fueled by fear and anger. "She wouldn't just disappear," he muttered, his mind racing with possibilities. "Not without telling us."

"Niobe must have done something to her," Jiang Fengmian said, his voice grim. "If he dared harm your mother-"

"He'll pay," Cheng hissed, cutting him off. His eyes burned with a fierce resolve. "We'll make him pay for everything."

As they passed the lotus pond, something caught Jiang Fengmian's eye, a glint of light reflecting off a small, ornate hairpin lying in the dirt. He stooped to pick it up, his breath hitching as he recognized it. "It's hers," he said softly, his grip tightening around the delicate object.

Cheng's throat tightened, but he forced himself to focus. "I can sense her magic," he said, scanning the area for any sign of a struggle. "Before sprinting in the direction of where it was coming from."

Jiang Fengmian nodded, his jaw set. "If Niobe thinks he can toy with my family, he's sorely mistaken."

Cheng hesitated as he stared at his mother, her figure luminous in the dim light. Her hair floated, defying gravity, shimmering like a silken veil under the moonlight. He reached out, a tentative whisper escaping his lips. "Mother...?"

Jiang Fengmian arrived moments later, his breath heavy from exertion. His voice cracked as he called out, "Yu?" The name carried a mix of longing and dread. He felt the unnatural chill in the air, a cold that seeped into his very bones.

Yu turned toward them, her expression serene but distant. Her eyes glowed faintly, reflecting neither recognition nor emotion. The air around her seemed to hum, as though she was caught between realms.

"Mother, what's wrong?" Cheng's voice quivered.

Yu's lips parted, her voice echoing with a haunting resonance. "You shouldn't have come."