Savior

Shun found the words tumbling from Vesanze's lips utterly absurd.

A powerful organization seeking peace, one that he was apparently meant to lead, simply because he was the son of its former members? It all sounded like a far-fetched fable. His parents—David and Eva Xshasi from Lordrixis—had always been humble, wielders of instrument-class ethereal arms, the lowest tier of power one could possess. Not some legendary figures called Wei and Yi from the Eternal Dynasty.

Vesanze's voice broke through his thoughts. "So, Shun," she said, her tone now more grounded, "are you willing to accept this responsibility?"

A bitter smile twisted Shun's lips as he shook his head, struggling to keep his rising anger in check. "Do I even get a choice in the matter?"

Vesanze sighed, her weariness evident. "I can't say for certain, but I would assume the answer is yes. Mister Yun was always intelligent and rational, but the letter he left behind... it carried a tone of desperation."

She paused, watching him closely. "In his words, you are their only hope. Whatever that truly means, you hold great value to them."

Shun's mind drifted into silence once again. The idea of being anyone's "hope" felt foreign, if not laughable. His ability—dangerous as it was—seemed more suited for destruction than salvation. But after he arrived at Haven, something within him shifted. What had once been a burning hatred was now evolving into a peculiar sense of curiosity, a gnawing desire to unravel the mystery of his true power. A need to challenge the narrative he had been handed, to prove that everything he had been told was wrong.

More than anything, Shun realized he wanted to understand the world. Its history, its hidden truths, and, most importantly, the tangled legacy of his family—and himself.

He wouldn't make any hasty decisions. Not yet. Once the affairs in Lordrixis were settled, he would venture to the "Empty Sea" to confront whatever the Starflame Community had in store for him. As for the fate of the previous Head of Starflame? That was none of his concern.

"I'll see what I can do," Shun finally said, his voice calm but laced with an unwavering resolve. His gaze met Vesanze's with newfound determination.

The truth was clear: the Starflame Community viewed him as a savior, a burden in its own right. But Shun understood something about saviors—they get to choose whom they save, not the other way around. Starflame had never been his concern, but perhaps, in the grand scheme of things, it would come to play a significant role in his life.

Leon, silent until now, had been lost in his own reflections. He viewed the situation through a different lens. While Shun knew more about the forces at play, Leon held his own secrets, insights into the ultimate aims of the White Crane Manor. He could sense faint echoes of Starflame's true purpose within those goals, but the pieces didn't yet fit. Doubt clouded his analysis, and that uncertainty gnawed at him.

It was then that Leon made his decision: he would follow Shun on this journey to the Eternal Dynasty. Not because it was his duty, but out of pure curiosity. People often said curiosity kills the cat, but Leon knew life itself was meaningless without it. The desire to understand what was originally unknown had always driven humanity forward, and Leon wanted to be part of that journey into the next frontier.

He looked at Shun, and in his previously melancholic eyes, a spark of determination was born.

Vesanze, who had witnessed much in her life, nodded in quiet acknowledgment. Despite her connection to Yun, the Starflame Community had never been central to her existence. In truth, she knew little beyond what she had shared with Shun. Whether Starflame survived or perished was irrelevant to her.

Yet, Vesanze was acutely aware of its power. The true nature of the responsibility that lay before Shun—the flame he was destined to carry—remained a mystery. Whether it was fear, curiosity, joy, or mere empathy that compelled her forward, she couldn't say. It didn't matter.

Starflame was none of their business. Yet somehow, all three had chosen to make it theirs.

With no further words, Shun and Leon left the manor. The silence between them on the journey home was deafening, but they both understood the thoughts swirling in the other's mind. They both knew they had only scratched the surface of something far more complex.

...

The Eternal Dynasty of An – The Empty Sea

The Empty Sea lay on the far eastern edge of the Eternal Dynasty, a place whispered about in hushed tones, as if it were the very boundary of the world. Those who dared venture beyond its shores were never seen again, swallowed by its mysterious abyss.

As its name implied, the sea was barren—no plants, no fish, no seabed. Just an expanse of nothingness, stretching endlessly toward the horizon. Legends of the Empty Sea had spread throughout the Dynasty, and a silent, mutual rule had been established among its people: do not go near it. No matter how powerful you were, the sea was a cursed place.

Yet, despite the warnings, adventurers still ventured into its depths, drawn by some unseen force, never to return. Those few who survived described it as a void of endless shadows, where strange noises echoed—a cacophony of voices, speaking in languages no one could understand. A madness-inducing illusion, they claimed, and yet the draw to explore it persisted.

The Empire's court remained indifferent, either too occupied with their own mind games or hiding a knowledge of the Empty Sea that the common folk could only speculate about.

"Head, the Inheritor has been found," a hooded woman reported, her long, pale hair visible beneath her weathered cloak.

The man she addressed turned, his stance proud and cold despite the weight of his years. His left sleeve was adorned with brilliant rings, but where his right sleeve should have been, there was nothing. His arm, long gone. His hair, once dark, had turned a snowy white over the past fifteen years. His eyes, though steely, were filled with sorrow and disappointment—emotions he concealed beneath an iron mask.

"I see…" he replied flatly, his voice as cold as the sea surrounding them.

"Woohoo!" A man in garish clothing burst onto the scene, his energy mismatched with the sombre atmosphere. "We're finally leaving this cursed sea! I can't wait to see their faces when they realise the thing they've feared all along was nothing but an illusion—one I conjured myself!"

From a luxurious sofa, a seductive woman lounged lazily, her lips curling in amusement. "Yes, the citizens' terror was quite the spectacle. Too bad it was all smoke and mirrors, wasn't it?"

Before the banter could continue, the old man, Shun, Head of Starflame, interrupted, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke.

"All members of the New Starflame Community..."

"It won't be long now. According to 'his' prophecy, we will soon be free of this prison…"

"It was always destined to end this way."

His eyes grew distant as he concluded, his voice barely above a whisper. "After all, in this world, everything will ultimately meet its conclusion, including nightmares, sorrow...and misery..."