Dawn broke soft over the village, painting the wooden houses in warm gold. Lin Che woke to the sound of roosters crowing and the distant chatter of villagers—peaceful sounds he hadn't heard since before the Zhao family attacked the Iron Rust Workshop. He sat up slowly, careful not to wake Xiao Ya, who was still curled up on the cot beside him, her small hands clutching a dried flower she'd picked the day before.
Su Qing was already awake, sitting by the window with her Arcane Manual open. She looked up as Lin Che stirred, a small smile on her face. "Ma Lan brought breakfast," she said, nodding to a basket on the table—filled with warm bread, fresh berries, and a jar of honey. "She also said the village elder wants to see us. He says he has something to tell us—about the Shadow Shards."
Lin Che's curiosity piqued. He stood, stretching his stiff muscles, and walked to the table. The light shard, still in his pocket, glowed faintly—fainter than it had the night before, but still warm. "Do you think he knows where another Shard is?" he asked.
Su Qing shrugged, closing her manual. "Maybe. Ma Lan said the elder's lived here his whole life—he knows the forest better than anyone. He might have heard stories… or even seen something."
Xiao Ya stirred, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "Are we going to see the elder?" she asked, her voice still groggy. When Lin Che nodded, she jumped off the cot, her fatigue forgotten. "The plants said he's nice. He feeds the squirrels by the well every morning."
They ate quickly, then followed Ma Lan to the elder's house—a larger wooden building at the center of the village, its walls covered in carvings of trees and animals. The elder, a thin man with a long white beard and bright eyes, was sitting in a rocking chair on the porch, holding a cup of herbal tea.
"Lin Che, Su Qing, Xiao Ya," he said, smiling as they approached. "Ma Lan told me about your fight with the Zhao family. About the Star Marrow and the light shard." He patted the porch steps beside him. "Sit. I have a story to tell you—one my grandfather told me, and his grandfather before him."
They sat, and the elder took a slow sip of tea. "Long ago, when the forest was still young, the Guardians fought a great darkness. They pushed it back, but it left pieces of itself behind—Shadow Shards. Most of them are hidden deep in the forest… but one is here. In the village."
Lin Che's heart raced. A Shadow Shard in the village? "Where?" he asked.
The elder nodded toward the edge of the village, where a small cave was visible among the trees. "The Cave of Whispers. My grandfather said a Shard is hidden there—guarded by the forest. No one's dared go near it for years. The villagers say it's cursed—anyone who enters never comes back."
Xiao Ya's eyes widened. "The plants say the cave is sad," she said softly. "They say the Shard's darkness is hurting the trees around it. The ferns near the entrance are dying."
Su Qing leaned forward, her voice serious. "We have to get it. If the Zhao family finds out it's here… they'll come for it. And they'll hurt the villagers to get it."
The elder nodded, his smile fading. "I was afraid you'd say that. But be careful. The cave isn't just guarded by the forest—it's guarded by a 'watcher.' My grandfather said it's a spirit of the forest, angry at the Shard for hurting its home. It won't let anyone take the Shard unless they prove they're worthy."
Lin Che stood, his hand resting on the light shard in his pocket. "We'll be careful. We won't let the Shard hurt the village—or the forest."
The elder handed him a small pouch. "Herbs," he said. "They'll protect you from the cave's cold. And if you see the watcher… speak to it with respect. It's not an enemy. It's a protector."
They thanked the elder, then walked toward the Cave of Whispers. The forest grew denser as they approached, the trees' branches twisting overhead. The ferns near the cave entrance were indeed dying—brown and wilted, their leaves crumpled.
Xiao Ya stopped at the entrance, her hands glowing green. "The watcher is here," she whispered. "It's in the cave. It's watching us."
Lin Che took a deep breath, then stepped inside. The cave was dark, but the light shard in his pocket glowed brighter, lighting the way. The walls were covered in carvings—like the ones on the stone arch and the Spirit Plant Ruins—depicting Guardians fighting the darkness.
They walked for a few minutes, the cave growing narrower, until they reached a small chamber. In the center, on a stone pedestal, sat a Shadow Shard—black as night, pulsing with faint red energy. The air felt cold, and Lin Che could feel the Shard's darkness pressing against him, like a heavy weight.
Before he could step forward, a soft voice echoed through the chamber. "Who dares take what does not belong to them?"
Lin Che spun around. A figure stood in the corner of the chamber—tall, with skin like bark and hair made of leaves. Its eyes were glowing green, like the moss in the Spirit Plant Ruins. The watcher.
"We're not here to take it for ourselves," Lin Che said, his voice steady. "We're here to protect it. The Zhao family wants to use the Shard to wake the darkness. To hurt the forest and the village."
The watcher stepped forward, its movements slow and deliberate. "You carry the Star Marrow," it said, its voice like wind through leaves. "And the light shard. You are the chosen one—Ling An's heir." It turned to Xiao Ya. "And you are a Spirit Plant Speaker. A friend of the forest."
Xiao Ya nodded, stepping forward. "The Shard is hurting the trees. We can help. We can keep it safe."
The watcher hesitated, then sighed. "The forest is dying because of the Shard. But I cannot let you take it unless you promise to destroy it—to keep its darkness from spreading."
Lin Che held up the light shard. "The light shard can neutralize the Shard's darkness. We won't let it hurt anyone again."
The watcher nodded, its green eyes softening. "Go. Take it. But be warned—the Zhao family is coming. They've been seen on the forest's edge. They're heading for the village."
Lin Che's heart dropped. The Zhao family was here? He grabbed the Shadow Shard from the pedestal—it was cold, and its darkness made his skin tingle. He slipped it into a pouch, then turned to Su Qing and Xiao Ya. "We need to leave. Now."
They ran out of the cave, the watcher's voice echoing behind them: "The forest will help you! Trust the plants!"
As they reached the village, they saw villagers running—pointing toward the forest's edge. Ma Lan ran toward them, her face pale. "They're here! The Zhao family's men—dozens of them! They're heading for the elder's house!"
Lin Che gripped the light shard in his pocket. The Zhao family had found them. And they wanted the Shadow Shard.
He turned to Su Qing and Xiao Ya. "We can't let them get it. We have to run. The forest is our only chance."
They ran toward the forest, the sound of the Zhao family's shouts growing louder behind them. The light shard glowed brighter, and the Shadow Shard in his pouch pulsed—two opposite forces, bound together.
The village was behind them, and the forest was ahead. But the Zhao family was close. And this time, they weren't just hunting for three people. They were hunting for a Shard.
Lin Che ran faster, his heart pounding. The fight wasn't over. Not yet.