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Chapter 18: The Keys of Time
The night was heavy with silence. The wind still carried faint traces of ash and grief as Lee Kung, Mia, and Sio Jun stood before the fading glow of the White Dragon's Den. The words of the great dragon still echoed within their hearts — "Your quest is to save the realms and balance them. It is bigger than just revenge."
They had survived another trial. But Lee Kang — Lee Kung's own twin brother — was gone again.
The bitter truth was harder than the fiercest battle.
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The Aftermath
As they emerged from the den, the once cold air now felt strangely calm, as if the realm itself was sighing in relief. Lee Kung's grip on his sword tightened, his mind swirling with the dragon's cryptic message.
> "One strong… one born of water…" he murmured.
"And from another universe…"
Mia placed her hand on his shoulder.
> "We'll find them, Kung. We always do."
Sio Jun, however, looked troubled. Her usual spark was dimmed.
> "I can't stop thinking about Mama Agatha," she said softly. "If what the dragon said is true, she might have known something all along."
Lee Kung nodded. "Then we'll return to her home. It's the least we can do—for her wisdom and her soul."
And so they walked.
The path back to the lonely forest felt longer than before, their steps guided by moonlight and memory. The shadows whispered softly, and the stars watched from above like ancient eyes. When they reached Mama Agatha's house, it was silent—emptier than death itself.
Inside, the air smelled faintly of herbs and burnt incense. Jars of potions lay shattered, and scrolls had turned to ash. Her chair was overturned, and the floor carried the faint marks of a struggle. Sio Jun's lips trembled as she stepped forward.
> "She died protecting something…" Jun whispered. "Maybe us."
Lee Kung moved to the center of the room and took a deep breath.
> "We owe her peace. Tonight, we cleanse this house."
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The Cleansing
They worked in silence. Mia swept the ashes away and sprinkled salt water across the floor. Lee Kung used his sword to carve a circle around the house — a symbol of purity and protection, glowing faintly blue under the moon. Sio Jun lit candles made from herbs that Mama Agatha once used for her rituals.
> "Her spirit deserves calm," Jun murmured, tracing runes on the wall. "She guided us even in death."
The air began to shift. The eerie chill was replaced with warmth, a faint hum of energy, like a sigh of relief from beyond.
For the first time in days, they felt peace.
Exhausted, they sat by the fire that night, eating the little food they had left. The flames reflected in their eyes as silence settled between them.
> "She helped us more than we knew," Mia said quietly. "If she hadn't told you about the den, we might've never learned the truth."
Sio Jun nodded, her voice soft.
> "Mama Agatha always said knowledge comes to those who seek, but wisdom only to those who endure pain."
Lee Kung smiled faintly. "Then we must've earned a little wisdom tonight."
They slept soon after — a deep, dreamless sleep.
And for the first time in a long while, the realm outside didn't tremble.
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The Morning Farewell
Dawn painted the sky in amber and gold. The forest shimmered as if it too mourned. Birds sang softly above as they dug the grave beside an ancient oak tree.
Sio Jun placed Mama Agatha's staff into the earth beside her body. "You taught me to see light in the dark," she whispered. "Rest now, old one. You've earned it."
Mia pressed a flower to the grave — white as snow — while Lee Kung bowed deeply, sword in hand, whispering a silent warrior's prayer.
> "Your spirit joins the eternal balance," he said. "May your knowledge guide the next age."
The wind stirred, and for a fleeting moment, they all felt a gentle touch brush their cheeks — warm and kind. Mama Agatha's final blessing, carried by the breeze.
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The Scroll
After the burial, they sat quietly on the porch. Smoke curled gently from the embers of the fire. The question that haunted them since the White Dragon's words now hung heavy again.
> "How are we supposed to travel through time?" Mia asked, frowning. "The realms I know barely hold stable portals, let alone… time shifts."
Sio Jun sighed, hugging her knees. "Even if we could… what would it cost us? Time magic is forbidden. It changes everything."
Lee Kung rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But the dragon said the next warriors live in another world — more advanced. That means time has moved differently there."
Mia's eyes widened. "You mean… the modern world?"
Before he could answer, the door creaked open behind them.
A man stepped out — tall, robed in black, carrying a faint scent of sandalwood and dust. His eyes were sunken, but calm.
> "You must be the ones who came from the Den," he said, his voice deep and slow. "Mama Agatha spoke of you."
They stood, cautious. Lee Kung's hand hovered near his sword. "Who are you?"
> "Just a caretaker," the man replied, offering a small wooden box. "Before she died, Mama Agatha left this… for Sio Jun."
Sio Jun froze. Her name.
She stepped forward and took the box, her hands trembling. Inside was a single scroll, sealed with golden wax marked by Agatha's insignia — the crescent and the eye.
Her breath hitched. "She knew this would happen."
Lee Kung nodded. "Open it."
Sio Jun broke the seal. The parchment unfurled — covered in ancient runes and symbols that glowed faintly blue.
At the center, written in Mama Agatha's elegant hand, were the words:
> "The Keys of Spirit and Knowledge — to cross the river of Time."
Beneath it was a sketch of two overlapping circles — one marked "Reality," the other "Imagination." Between them, a narrow bridge of light.
Sio Jun's eyes widened as she began reading aloud:
> "When the hearts of three align under truth's flame, the door to the next age shall open. One must wield power, one must bear wisdom, and one must keep faith. Together, they shall walk through Time's Mirror."
The scroll glowed brighter. Symbols shifted across its surface as if alive.
Mia leaned in, amazed. "This… is a time spell."
Lee Kung grinned for the first time in days. "Mama Agatha, even in death, you guide us."
They looked at each other — eyes filled with the same mix of fear and determination.
> "Good," Lee Kung said at last, gripping his sword. "Then our path is clear."
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Meanwhile in the Shadow Realm
Far away, beneath the eternal black clouds of the Shadow Realm, Dehaska sat upon his obsidian throne. The air crackled with dark energy. Shadows crawled along the walls, whispering voices that no mortal should ever hear.
A twisted smile played on his lips.
> "So… the boy still lives," he hissed. "And now he seeks to cross time itself."
From the void beside his throne, a faint cry echoed — Lee Kang's.
Dehaska's clawed hand reached into the darkness and pulled.
Lee Kang's body was dragged out of the shadows and thrown to the ground like a broken doll. He coughed, struggling to breathe, the marks of corruption glowing faintly on his chest.
> "You have failed me again," Dehaska said coldly. "And yet… you are still useful."
Lee Kang looked up, eyes filled with fury and exhaustion. "You'll never control me. I'd rather die than serve you."
Dehaska's grin widened. "Oh, you misunderstand, little dragon. This is not a request."
He leaned forward, eyes glowing crimson.
> "You will obey… because your soul is still bound to me."
Lee Kang tried to move but screamed in pain — the dark shackles reappearing around his wrists, glowing like molten iron. Dehaska rose from his throne and extended his hand.
> "I have an assignment for you," he said, his voice echoing across the hall. "And this time, failure will mean the end of your brother."
Lee Kang spat blood, defiance burning in his gaze. "You know I'll never—"
> "Oh, you will," Dehaska interrupted, his grin turning monstrous. "Because you have no choice."
He lifted his hand, and shadows consumed Lee Kang again. The room shook with his screams before silence returned.
Dehaska sat back on his throne, whispering to the void:
> "Let the twins play their parts… until balance itself begs for mercy."
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