Chapter 16: The Whisper of White Flames
The morning sun spilled gold across the valley, chasing away the shadows of night and the haunting remnants of Lee Kung's poison-ridden dreams. The sky above was a canvas of calm blue, streaked with the soft brush of white clouds. Birds chirped again in the trees, and the world felt, for the first time in days, momentarily at peace.
Lee Kung sat on a carved stone bench outside the healer's hut, his fingers tracing the faint glow still humming beneath his skin. Though weakened by the poison, his strength had returned in full—stronger even, as if the very trial had unearthed something sleeping within.
Mia stood beside him, quietly braiding her hair, her eyes occasionally drifting toward him with unspoken worry. Sio Jun paced the dirt path nearby, arms crossed, as though sensing something more was coming.
"I saw a dragon," Lee Kung finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, but each word carried weight. "In my dream… or maybe not a dream. A red one. It spoke to me."
Both women turned to him, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity.
"A dragon?" Mia echoed, setting down her braid.
Sio Jun froze. Then, slowly, she turned toward them. Her eyes narrowed, lips parting with a strange sort of wonder. "Now that you say dragon…"
She paused, walking slowly toward them. "It reminds me of someone. Someone who once saved my life."
Lee Kung leaned forward slightly. "Who?"
"Mama Agatha," Sio Jun said, her tone dipping into reverence. "She's... unlike anyone I've ever met. She doesn't live in any realm—not exactly. More like the in-between spaces. I met her long before I joined you, when I was first banished."
"Banished?" Mia blinked. "You never mentioned that."
Sio Jun gave a small, bitter laugh. "There's a lot I haven't said."
She sat on a nearby stone, curling one leg under her. "When my pack found out what I was—half-human, half-werewolf—they feared me. Said I was cursed. I was cast out and wandered for weeks, half-crazed, barely surviving on instinct. One night, I stumbled into a forest none dared enter. I thought I was going to die there, honestly. But instead... I found her."
"Who is she?" Lee Kung asked.
"She calls herself Mama Agatha. Others call her the Crone of Whispers. A witch—no, something older than that. Maybe a seer. Maybe something more. She knew what I was the moment she saw me. She didn't fear me—she... understood me."
Mia tilted her head. "Why does this connect with the dragon?"
"She told me stories," Sio Jun replied. "About creatures who walk the line between realms. About ancient prophecies and chosen warriors. She once mentioned a White Dragon's Den—a sacred temple hidden beside her home that no one dares enter. Those who did…" She trailed off, her eyes darkening. "Few came back. And the ones who did couldn't speak."
Lee Kung stood slowly, energy stirring beneath his skin again. "Do you think she can help us? With the dream? With the dragon?"
Sio Jun nodded. "If anyone can unravel your visions and this power inside you, it's her."
Mia stepped closer, concern etched into her face. "But that temple... this White Dragon's Den. If no one dares to enter it, why would we?"
"Because we have no choice," Lee Kung said firmly. "We're running out of time. The balance is tipping. My brother… he's more lost than ever. And if there's even a chance Mama Agatha can help us understand what's coming—we take it."
Sio Jun smiled faintly. "Then get ready. The path to her is through the Hollow Forest. And it's not exactly welcoming."
Later that day, after packing and preparing for the journey...
They stood at the edge of the Hollow Forest by dusk, staring into a wall of trees so thick the sunlight seemed to die the moment it touched the ground. A mist curled around their feet, and the trees stood twisted, almost like they were whispering to each other.
"Are you sure this is the way?" Mia asked, uneasily adjusting her satchel.
"I can smell her," Sio Jun said. "Her scent never leaves this forest. Come."
They moved quietly, every step deeper into a world untouched by light. Branches creaked overhead, strange creatures rustled in the underbrush, and now and then, distant echoes of laughter—not entirely human—danced through the trees.
After hours of weaving through narrow paths, ducking low-hanging branches, and evading the gaze of curious, unseen eyes, they came upon a wooden fence—ancient, half-buried in vines.
Beyond it stood a crooked house perched beside a great stone gate with dragon carvings.
The gate was cracked but still imposing, its archway leading into the earth. Moss grew along its base, and above it, chiseled into stone, were the words:
"Here lies the breath of the first flame."
"That's it," Sio Jun whispered. "The White Dragon's Den."
"And the house?" Mia asked.
"That's Mama Agatha's," Sio Jun replied, walking forward.
Before she could knock, the door creaked open on its own.
A voice echoed from inside, old and melodic. "You've brought them. Just in time."
Inside Mama Agatha's Hut
The room smelled of herbs, old paper, and firewood. Jars filled with glowing liquids lined the walls. Candles floated in mid-air. In the center sat an old woman in a red cloak, her silver hair long and wild, her eyes bright as if fire danced in her pupils.
"Lee Kung," she said, before he could speak. "And Mia. And dear, fierce Sio Jun. I've seen you in smoke and flame."
Lee Kung blinked. "You know us?"
"I've been watching the Realms unravel," Mama Agatha said, leaning forward. "And I've seen you tangled in the threads. Especially you, boy with the dragon mark."
She stood and circled Lee Kung, muttering words in an ancient tongue. Then she reached for his wrist and placed her fingers on it.
The sword on his back shimmered.
"You've awakened something that should've slept for a thousand years," she whispered. "And now... it calls to the others."
"Others?" Lee Kung asked.
"The remaining three," she said. "The ones hidden by time. The flame, the voice, and the echo."
She moved to the window, gazing toward the White Dragon's Den.
"You must enter the temple," she said gravely. "Not just for answers—but for a trial. One that will show you what you are willing to give to save what you love."
Mia's expression darkened. "We've been through trials already. So many."
Mama Agatha nodded slowly. "And more will come. This time, it will not be steel or poison you face—but the weight of truth."
Lee Kung nodded. "We're ready."
The old woman smiled. "We'll see."
That night, just before entering the White Dragon's Den
As the moon rose high above the forest canopy, casting silver light over the carvings of the temple gate, the three stood in silence. The ground vibrated slightly, as though something inside the den stirred.
Mama Agatha stood beside them.
"You will face the deepest parts of yourself in there," she warned. "Not all who enter return the same."
Lee Kung placed a hand on his sword. "We've already changed."
Sio Jun glanced at Mia. "Are you ready?"
Mia smiled softly. "We never are. But we go anyway."
The gate rumbled as it opened.
Cold air rushed out like the breath of something ancient.
And together, the trio stepped into the darkness of the White Dragon's Den—where the past, future, and destiny would collide.