Healing
Trinity leads Najo and Sheu to an old woman whose trembling hands rest firmly on their heads. Her grip is iron-strong, as if her life depends on it. Power hums through her palms. Their hair coils under the pressure, clothes flutter in a sudden wind — and their wounds seal and strength returns; however, the raw pain remains.
At last, she lets go, placing herbs in their hands.
Healer: "Burn these for the pain. They won't show visions, only rest."
Najo eyes them warily.
Najo: "You better be right."
Trinity smiles politely and excuses herself to prepare for Soris' memorial. Sheu and Najo bow their heads, offering condolences, then head to the park.
They sit on the grass, smoke curling upward. Around them, others close their eyes, drifting in haze. Najo fidgets with his herb.
Najo: "Maybe we shouldn't take it. Pain's a sign of growth."
Sheu shakes her head.
Sheu: "You don't have to act tough. You're scared after last time. That's fine."
Najo: "I am tough! You saw me lift that boulder."
Sheu's lips twitch.
Sheu: "Yeah, that was impressive."
Najo: "And you — that new knife work? Pretty slick."
Sheu: "Thanks. I'm getting used to it."
The compliment warms her, but silence falls when they remember the last monster. She shivers.
Sheu: "...Did you notice Moto? He didn't even flinch when Soris fell."
Najo: "Didn't notice. Had bigger things to worry about than Moto."
Sheu frowns, unsettled.
Memorial
Meanwhile, Moto and Khosa walk back from the border. Despite their earlier words, the silence is heavy. Khosa's eyes drift again and again to the battlefield, to the place Soris died. Moto says nothing, offering space.
By the time they return, Trinity has almost finished the preparations. Khosa leads Moto toward the burial grounds.
Tombstones stand in a solemn circle, mourners gathered. At the center glows a teal stone the size of a barrel — Zen's fragment of the Hwange, the Spirit Ore.
Soris' parents collapse before the King, weeping. Khosa kneels, tears in his own eyes as he consoles them.
Trinity reunites Moto with Sheu and Najo. Together, they watch as Soris' comrades lower her into her resting place. Khosa speaks, his voice cracking.
Khosa: "She was brave. Her sacrifice saved us. But she should never have met her end so suddenly. We are all equal. And we all return to dust."
Moto glances around. Neither Andzani nor Aemon is present.
Koji approaches the trio.
Koji: "I'm sorry you had to witness this."
Kuzai joins him, steadier.
Kuzai: "Honor her by remembering what she taught you in battle. Survive. That will be enough."
They nod, heavy with silence. Trinity escorts them back to her place. Supper is brief. None have much to say.
Night Training
Later, Sheu slips quietly onto the roof. Cross-legged, she breathes, hair and poncho fluttering as she trains her senses, feeling even the chill of the steel sheets beneath her.
Below, Najo huffs through boulder-lifting drills, sweat pouring as he forces distance between himself and the weight.
Moto climbs up beside Sheu.
Sheu: "You okay?"
Moto: "Mostly. I'm just worried about Aemon. Andzani... the threats he made... Aemon's not safe here."
Najo clambers up, overhearing.
Najo: "Wait, what threats?"
Moto shares what Andzani told him — the truth about Aemon's clan.
Najo: "That's insane. I thought he was one of the good guys."
Moto: "It's not that simple."
Sheu: "So what do you want to do?"
Moto thinks of an answer. The wind carries his silence.
Then the night itself splits open. A tower of golden light erupts in the distance, piercing the heavens. The sky burns yellow, brighter than dawn.
The trio gape in awe. People spill into the streets, whispering.
Najo: "No... it can't be."
Moto: "What is it?"
Najo: "If what my grandfather Ginimbi told me is true... the King of Denga has passed."
Moto stiffens.
Moto: "What!?"
Trinity hurries out, face pale.
Trinity: "It's true. That's what the pillar means. It doesn't concern us directly, but it's still a tragedy."
Sheu: "Denga... isn't that directly above Pasi?"
Trinity: "Yes. And Pasi worships Denga as their gods. Instability will follow."
Moto rises to his feet, eyes blazing.
Moto: "We have to go."
Sheu: "Now?!"
Moto: "Yes. Trust me."
He embraces Trinity quickly.
Moto: "Thank you for everything. You're my friend now, so I'll definately see you again."
Trinity: "Farewell. And I'll hold you to that promise."
The trio sprint toward the palace.
The Palace
Before they reach the doors, they hear shouting.
Inside, Andzani has Aemon pinned against the wall, a gun pressed to his face. Paintballs litter the floor — no, not paint. Live rounds. Khosa begs him to stop.
Khosa: "He's just a child!"
Andzani: "He tried to kill me. Enough is enough!"
Moto bursts in.
Moto: "Stop!"
Aemon's eyes find him, desperate.
Andzani: "What are you doing here?"
Moto: "What are you doing, pointing a gun at the one you swore to protect?"
Andzani: "You think I don't know that? Who are you to judge me?"
Moto: "I'm not judging. But think. This isn't justice — it's execution."
Andzani: "I'm neutralizing a threat. There are no exceptions."
Moto: "Then let him come with us. If he stays here, he'll die. And I'll never forgive you if you kill him."
Andzani's jaw tightens.
Andzani: "What's your forgiveness worth to me?"
Moto: "My enemies are my brother's. And his... are mine."
That hits. Silence stretches. At last, Andzani throws Aemon toward Moto.
Andzani: "Fine. Get him out of my sight."
Khosa collapses with relief, tears streaming.
Khosa: "Thank you, son. Thank you."
Moto helps him up.
Moto: "Stay strong, okay? Your people need you."
The words echo Asher's — when he once left Moto crying.
Khosa nods, broken but resolute.
Khosa: "Yes. Stay safe."
Moto grips Aemon's hand and pulls him along.
Aemon: "Where are we going?"
Moto: "To see the world."
They race to the northern border. Kuzai waits, puzzled, but doesn't stop them. A Hwange-powered transport is prepared. The four climb in.
As the glow fades from the sky, the vehicle roars to life. Everyone turns to Moto, waiting.
He exhales, steady.
Moto: "Alright. Let me explain..."