They grew tired and left. As they stepped out of the door, Anna slowly opened her eyes, holding John in her arms. She hugged him tightly and drifted back to sleep.
John gently pulled away, walked out of the room, and quietly shut the door behind him.
"She's awake," he said softly to the others. "Let her have some time to recover."
He tried to act like everything was fine, but he hadn't eaten in days. The healing he had done on Anna drained much of his energy, yet he stayed close, watching over them all. They remained together, holding on to a fragile peace until Anna finally opened her eyes again.
"John," she said.
He smiled. "Hey."
"How are you feeling?" asked Kay.
Kido grinned. "Thank goodness you're awake at last! We're going to have real food in this house!"
Mary laughed. "Your love for food is something else, Kido."
Everyone chuckled.
Anna sat up slowly. "I feel... more alive. And more powerful."
John raised a brow. "Come to think of it, what happened to you?"
"Hey, slow down," Mary interrupted. "She just woke up. There's no rush. She's not going anywhere—we're all here. Let her recover fully first."
"I said I'm okay," Anna replied gently. "You worry too much."
As they held hands, Anna tried to connect with John's spirit, searching for clarity. But instead, she was pulled into a dark place, surrounded by shadows and pain. It felt like a prison—one John himself feared. She tried to leave, but something trapped her. Her powers faded. She felt powerless, hopeless.
Then, suddenly, a light appeared.
John freed her.
Anna gasped softly. "I'm really sorry… You've been through so much. There's a darkness in you, John… painful memories, heavy burdens. How long have you been suffering like this? How do you even smile through it?"
John looked down. "I'm just really glad you're okay."
Kay stepped forward. "Thanks to you, Anna."
They all joined hands and pulled each other into a warm embrace.
"We ride together, we die together," John said. "Let's promise to be the best leaders—and friends—we can be."
The group nodded in agreement, sealing their bond with purpose.
----
Hunt in the Shadows
Far away in the city, Shadow and his men were scouring every corner in search of John and those helping him. They moved through alleyways and market squares, harassing citizens and turning homes upside down. Resistance was met with death. Fear spread quickly.
But in the midst of fear, something unexpected happened—people began to fight back.
Whispers turned to shouts, and shouts turned to fists. The people in the village started standing up to the soldiers. "This boy has sparked something," they whispered. "We must find him before Don hears about this rebellion."
John, meanwhile, reminded his group of their mission.
"We need to find the man from my dreams. He's important. I can feel it. He may have the answers we've been searching for."
"It could be a trap," Mary warned. "This could either help us… or be the end of us."
"I know," John said, "but the decision's been made. We stay alert. Watch each other's backs—like always."
Heads nodded in agreement. The air was tense, yet determined.
---
The Encounter
The two groups—John's and Shadow's—accidentally crossed paths on a narrow street. For a moment, silence. Then one of Shadow's scouts whispered, "Wow… this boy is so cute. He looks just like the late king."
That realization hit them like a wave.
"Stop!" someone shouted. They stepped forward.
John and his friends didn't hesitate. They ran—not out of fear, but urgency. They didn't have time for unnecessary fights.
Shadow's group reported in. "Target in sight."
"Keep an eye on them," Shadow commanded through the comms. "Do not lose them. Follow them. Find out where they're going, who they're meeting, and what their mission is. Watch them closely."
"Yes, boss."
Shadow's men trailed them, keeping to the shadows, mirroring every move.
The Burning House
Turning a corner, John and the others heard screams. A family was fighting back against Don's soldiers, who tried to force their way into a small house.
"You will die if you resist!" one soldier roared. "Where is he? Where are you hiding him?"
"If you don't hand him over, we'll burn you alive!" shouted another.
An elderly man stood tall, blocking the door. "He's not here!"
The soldiers shoved him aside, but the resistance was fierce. A fight broke out. John's group stepped back, watching from the shadows as the people fought bravely.
"They're waking up," Mary whispered. "Just like we hoped."
Suddenly, John's eyes widened. "We have to move. We're close."
"How do you know?" Kido asked.
"I don't know… I just feel it."
John led the way, pushing through narrow paths until they reached a small hut at the edge of the city.
"We're here," he said, stepping toward the old wooden door.
----
Reflections
John knocked, but the door creaked open on its own. The room inside was empty—no chairs, no furniture, not even a bed.
Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed.
The space shimmered, transforming before their eyes. Four elderly figures appeared, standing at the far end of the room.
"You finally made it," one of them said, smiling.
"I never thought I'd live to see you again, John," said another, stepping forward.
They stepped into the light, revealing their faces.
John and the others froze. Their mouths dropped open.
Standing before them were older versions of themselves.
"Are you… surprised?" the woman said with a gentle smile. "We only have a few minutes."
"I'm Mary," she continued, pointing to each one beside her. "This is Kido, Kay, and Anna. We are the older versions of you."
The room fell silent.
"We're here to teach you how to truly use your abilities," the older Anna explained. "We want to share what we've learned… so you don't make the same mistakes we did."
"You're part of something greater," the elder Kay said. "Your choices now will decide the future. Don't fail the mission… because we did."
John stepped forward, heart pounding. "Then let's not waste time."