Three years.

It has been three years since I have been searching for Zhan, Meng, Yu Bin, and Cheng. The witch took me to a location, but unfortunately, they had already moved by the time we arrived. I regret spending the night with her, but as I said, I would do whatever it takes to find my husband.

Since then, I have diligently pursued every nook and cranny in search of a good witch. However, every time I receive a location, they always seem to move before we are able to reach them. It is disheartening, as my efforts continue to pay off in futile.

Despite the challenges, I remain determined to find my husband. I will exhaust every lead, explore every possibility, and never give up hope.

I cannot help but think of the hardship they are going through. It breaks my heart to think that they are alone, without family, and possibly in danger. It is only natural for me to feel a deep sadness and despair, and I often find myself shedding tears as I continue this seemingly endless search.

Liu travelled looking for Hemfire, but it was a dead end. The revelation left me feeling lost and shattered, as my world crumbled without Zhan. Despite the overwhelming sense of loss, I was determined to keep calm, knowing that Zhan's presence was still felt even in my darkest moments.

It was a bittersweet reality that I struggled to maintain equilibrium, as my longing for Zhan weighed heavily on my heart. However, it was the same person that provided me with the courage and hope to carry on. Despite the uncertainty and the unknown, I clung to the belief that I would one day reunite with them.

I, Jackson and Liu, ventured into the countryside in search of a witch when we stumbled upon Nomo, my gargoyle. To my surprise, Nomo was bleeding profusely and ran towards me, pulling me along. We ran at breakneck speed, covering a distance of three miles until we reached Hemfire, lying lifeless on the ground.

His intestines were sprawled across the ground, his organs were scattered, and his blood had stained the grass a deep crimson. His body was still warm, but his eyes had already closed in death. We had arrived too late to save him, and the sight of him lying there sent a chill down my spine.

Nomo sniffed Hemfire's body before turning him over and pulling something from his pocket. He dropped it in front of us, and for a moment, I thought I saw recognition in his eyes. He still remembered me and Liu after 3 years. We looked down at the small bag, and Liu immediately picked it up and emptied the contents onto the ground. There were a few coins, a small piece of paper, and a necklace with a dragon pendant. We looked at each other in shock, unaware what this meant. We pocketed the coins, and Nomo carefully placed the necklace around his neck. The piece of paper has runes on it, and I made a mental note to show it to the witch.

We searched high and low throughout the mountain, but we could find no sign of Daliyah.

Liu sighed, "We will come back tomorrow. It's getting dark, and we should get some rest."

We mounted our bikes and drove home, dejected and weary after another day of searching. Jackson whispered softly, "We will find her, I promise."

I nodded in agreement, hoping beyond hope that tomorrow would bring the answers we'd been searching for.

When we got home, what we saw shocked us. Zhan's mom was standing beside a man, and my blood began to boil with rage. I jumped off my bike and in a swift movement, I grabbed her neck.

"Where the fuck is Zhan?" I hissed through clenched teeth, my voice filled with anger and frustration. I needed to know where he was, and I wanted answers.

The man standing next to Zhan's mom looked at me with surprise and anger. He knew I was angry, and he could see determination in my eyes.

I tightened my grip on Zhan's mom's neck, not intending to harm her but demanding that she give me the truth. I could feel her struggling to breathe, but I was determined to get to the truth.

Suddenly, I heard someone approaching us from behind. It was Liu, running towards us with a worried look on his face.

"What's going on?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Wang, we need to talk," the man said, his voice filled with anger but slightly calmer. "I need you to tell me what's going on." but first let go of her neck.

"I will explain everything," she said, her voice trembling. "But please, just stay calm."

Liu looked at the man and said, "You look familiar." 

The man replied, "Yes, I was here a few years ago to see Wang and ask if he had my wife's necklace. However, I was told he was in Uscana but still had the necklace."

"Are you Urza?" Jackson and I asked at the same time.

The man nodded and said, "Yes, I'm Urza. I'm looking for my son and I need my wife's necklace that she left with you 21 years ago."

Liu shook his head and said, "That isn't right. You came here three years ago to take Zhan with you to break the curse his dad placed on him. What is really going on here?"

What are you talking about? Urza asked, confused by the sudden shift in conversation. I took a deep breath and explained everything that happened three years ago, starting with how Zhan was taken and how we have been searching for him ever since.

I can't believe someone shapeshifted to look like me. The only person with my picture is my sister. She must have given it to whomever came to claim my son. I have been in a deep slumber for donkey years. Zhan's mom sighed, still looking pale and fragile.

Let's go inside and talk. Tell me everything, and I also need the necklace. Uzra's anger was evident in his voice as he hissed.

Once inside, I explained how I met Zhan, how his aunt and uncle treated him, and how he was abused by their son and his friends. I also mentioned how he was treated like a slave.

They listened attentively, with endless tears streaming down their cheeks. Their expressions showed deep sympathy for him and the horrific experiences he endured. 

I'm going to kill your sister and her husband with their foolish child. The threat was uttered with chilling intent, leaving no room for doubt or negotiation. Urza's voice resonated with power and authority.

In that moment, everything changed. The air grew heavy with tension as darkness descended upon the living room. It was as if a blanket of night enveloped the area, casting an eerie pall over the surroundings. The sudden disappearance of light was unsettling.

As if the sudden darkness change wasn't enough, a sudden wind gust swept through the air. This caused everything in its path to be uprooted or blown away. The gale's sheer force could easily level a small village made of wood or blocks. The ferocity of this wind seemed unimaginable.

Urza. Zhan's mom called him sternly, and his eyes softened slightly. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, calming himself. The wind died down, and the darkness lifted. The room was now filled with soft light, and the tension dissipated. Urza's eyes were still bloodshot, but his anger had been replaced with sadness. He knew he had pushed too far.

If you are this powerful, why did you leave your son to suffer? Liu asked.

"We left him because of the prophecy. We knew he'd suffer, but we left him with my sister to minimize it. We knew she'd take care of him and provide him with the finest life she could. We had to. Zhan's mom replied."

"I bought the house they live in and I gave them enough money that'd last for centuries yet my child was still called a bastard. Urza hissed, his eyes blazing. 'We did what we had to do. We had to protect him from those who would take advantage of the prophecy and use him for their own gain.'"

Jackson asked, "What prophecy?"