The footsteps outside the cave stopped. Tan Kai gripped the Lotus Spear, its green-and-gold light flaring.
"Who's there?" Agus called, voice low.
A figure stepped into the cave entrance—tall, wearing Bronze Drum Clan armor, snow dusted on his shoulders. It was Gareth, one of Old Drum's top warriors, a faint scar slicing his jaw.
"Relax," he said, holding up his hands. "Old Drum sent me. Said you might need backup—and snacks." He tossed a sack to Bright, who caught it with a yelp. "And for the record—I'm here 'cause the Council burned my family's village. Owe 'em a debt."
Bright tore the sack open, eyes lighting up. "Mangoes! Fresh mangoes! You're my hero—second only to mangoes themselves!" He pulled one out, biting into it so hard juice dribbled down his wrist.
Gareth grinned. "Old Drum remembered your 'ration crisis.' Also—warning. Morrigan knows you're coming. She's doubled the Forge's guards. And she's got corrupted spirits patrolling the perimeter. Oh, and Old Drum found this—said it might help with the Lotus Heart." He pulled a small lotus pendant from his pocket, handing it to Tan Kai.
Tan Kai tucked it away, heart racing. Lotus Heart—today they'd finally learn what it could do.
Kael tensed. "Corrupted spirits? She's already using them as weapons. The Council taught her that trick—twist spirits' light into darkness. I helped refine the spell, back when I was blind."
Gareth nodded, pulling a scrap of bark from his pocket. "Old Drum drew a map of the tunnel Kael mentioned. Shortcut to the Forge's core—where Lina's being held. But the tunnel's got a gas pocket halfway—corruption fumes. Breathe deep when I say. Inhaled, it makes you hallucinate—sees your worst fears."
Tan Kai took the map, tracing the tunnel's path. It wound under the Forge, ending right by the central chamber. "Perfect. We leave at dawn."
Bright finished his mango, wiping juice off his chin. "Dawn? But I just got mangoes. Can't we wait till after breakfast?"
Nam rolled her eyes, but she pulled a small jar from her pack—her best healing salve, tucked next to a handful of dried golden lotus petals and a chipped stone carving of a lotus. "Breakfast is mangoes. Eat fast—we need to move before Morrigan's patrols find us. And Bright—don't waste mangoes on distractions. We've got fire traps for that." She ran a finger over the stone carving. "My mentor gave this to me. Council turned her into a corrupted guard. I'm here to free her… or avenge her."
The night passed quickly. They slept in shifts, Gareth keeping watch—his hand drifting to the hilt of his sword whenever the wind howled, like he was reliving old horrors. Kael sat by the fire, staring at his hands—corruption still visible, but fading a little. He'd been picking at the veins, like he could peel the corruption off.
"Morrigan was once a hero," he said quietly, when Tan Kai sat next to him. "Fought corruption. Saved spirits. I was her apprentice—helped her forge weapons to protect them. Then the Shadow Council came. Their leader—Dark Crow Elder—promised her power to end the fighting. She was tired of burying friends—so she believed them. Now she's trapped, same as me."
Tan Kai nodded. "We're not here to kill her. Just to free Lina. And maybe… help her."
Kael laughed, hollow. "Good luck. Dark Crow's hold on her is deep. He planted a corruption shard in her chest—controls her when she resists."
Dawn broke pale and cold. The storm was gone, leaving a blanket of snow. They packed up, Gareth adding his fire herbs to Nam's supply—his arm bore a faint scar, from when Council raiders burned his village. Tong slipped an extra blanket into Lila's pack—"For when it gets cold in the Forge," he said, and she smiled, tucking it close.
"Ready?" Agus asked, checking his sword.
Bright held up his mango sack, now half-full. "Ready. Mangoes charged. Hero mode activated." He pulled a mango out, carving a tiny notch in the skin. "Mango tally—three used, five left. Gotta ration."
They set off, Kael leading the way. The path was clearer now, snow crunching under their boots. He moved fast, avoiding hidden traps—rotten logs that would collapse, patches of ice that masked deep holes.
"Council's favorite trick," he said, pointing to a snow-covered rock. "Step on it, and spikes shoot up. I helped build these. Back when I thought I was doing good."
Nam marked it with a stone, then paused to tuck a stray hair behind Lila's ear. "Stay close. If you see corruption, yell. And if we find a guard with a lotus tattoo—that's my mentor. Don't hurt her."
Lila's red stone glowed faint. "Corruption ahead. Lots of it."
They rounded a bend, and the Eastern Forge came into view. It was bigger than the Bone Forge—black stone walls, spikes on top, smokestacks belching thick, purple corruption. Guards in black armor patrolled the gates, their faces hidden by helmets. Corrupted spirits floated above the walls—faint, glowing shapes, their light twisted by darkness, whimpering softly.
Bright froze. "Whoa. That's… way scarier than the last Forge. No mango trees here. Figures."
Kael pointed to a cluster of boulders at the base of the wall. "Tunnel entrance is there. Hidden behind the rocks. But there's two guards—corrupted warriors. They never sleep. And their armor's lined with pure corruption—fire won't hurt them, just slow them down."
Agus nodded. "Plan. Gareth, Tong—take the guards. Aim for their knees—armor's thinner there. Yara, Nam—cover them with fire traps to blind. Lila, keep watch for patrols. Bright, Tan Kai, Kael—get to the tunnel. And Bright—no mango distractions unless we're desperate."
Everyone nodded. Gareth and Tong crept toward the boulders, moving low. The guards stood still, armor glinting in the dawn light.
Gareth signaled. Tong charged, knife drawn. One guard spun, sword swinging—but Gareth tackled him, slamming him into the rocks. The guard roared, corruption oozing from his armor, burning Gareth's arm. He gritted his teeth—flashbacks of his village burning—and held on tighter.
"Ow!" Gareth yelled, but he didn't let go.
The other guard lunged at Tong, who ducked, stabbing the guard's knee. The armor cracked, and the guard stumbled.
Yara tossed a fire trap. It exploded, orange light blinding the guards. Nam ran forward, slamming a rock into one's helmet. He fell, unconscious.
"Go!" Gareth yelled, wiping corruption off his arm.
Tan Kai, Bright, and Kael ran to the boulders. Kael pushed aside a rock, revealing a dark tunnel entrance—narrow, just wide enough for one person.
"Inside," he said. "It's tight, but it leads straight to the core. And remember—gas pocket halfway. Breathe deep when we get close."
Bright hesitated. "Dark tunnels? With corruption gas? And no mango trees? I'm not a fan."
Tan Kai clapped him on the back. "Stick close. We'll be out soon. And I'll save you a mango if we make it."
They crawled into the tunnel—Kael first, then Tan Kai, then Bright. It was dark, the air thick with the smell of rot and metal. Lila's stone glowed soft, lighting the way.
"Watch your head," Kael said.
Bright hit his head with a thud. "Ow! Warn me sooner!" He pulled a mango from his sack, smearing juice on the wall. "Marking our path. Mango trail—genius, right?"
The tunnel wound downward, the walls damp and slimy. Suddenly, Kael stopped. "Gas pocket. Breathe deep—now!"
They sucked in air as a faint purple mist drifted past. Bright gagged, inhaling a tiny wisp. His eyes went wide. "Mangoes… they're all gone! Council ate 'em!" He started panicking, scrambling forward.
Tan Kai grabbed his arm. "Bright! It's a hallucination! Breathe!"
Bright blinked, gasping. The vision faded. "Gross. Never doing that again. Mango fear is the worst fear."
Kael stopped again. "Listen."
Footsteps echoed from ahead—heavy, rhythmic. Guards, patrolling the tunnel's other end. And this time, they were talking.
"Dark Crow Elder's here," one said. "He wants the Lotus Heart by sundown. If Morrigan fails, he's gonna feed her to the corruption pit."
"The Heart's powerful. Once Dark Crow has it, he can wake the Abyss Ore—corruption will cover the whole mountain."
Tan Kai's jaw tightened. Abyss Ore—Lina's diary had mentioned it, the source of the Council's corruption.
"Quiet," he whispered. He pulled the Lotus Spear close, its light dimming to a faint glow.
The footsteps grew louder. Two guards walked past, their armor clinking. They didn't notice the trio huddled in the shadows—until Bright's mango sack rustled.
"Who's there?" one guard yelled, drawing his sword.
Tan Kai lunged, spear stabbing the guard's knee. He fell, and Kael knocked him out with a rock. The other guard ran, yelling for backup. Bright grabbed a mango core, hurling it—hitting the guard's ankle. He stumbled, buying them time.
"Go! Go! Go!" Kael yelled.
They kept moving, the tunnel widening into a small chamber. Kael pointed to a stone door. "Through there—into the Forge's core. But hurry—backup's coming. And Dark Crow's inside."
Tan Kai pushed the door open, peeking through. The core chamber was huge, black stone walls lined with cages—filled with spirits, their light dimmed by corruption. In the corner, a guard with a lotus tattoo on her wrist stood frozen, corruption oozing from her armor. Nam's breath caught—that was her mentor.
In the center, a platform made of corrupted metal. And on the platform—Lina.
She was tied to a stone altar, chains of black metal wrapping around her. Corruption oozed from the chains, crawling onto her skin, leaving dark veins. Her eyes were closed, her face pale, but her chest glowed faintly—golden light, the Lotus Heart.
A tall figure stood beside Morrigan—cloaked in black, a crow mask covering his face. Dark Crow Elder.
Tan Kai's breath caught. "Lina."
Morrigan stood beside her—tall, wearing a black robe, her hair white as snow. Corruption swirled around her, like a dark mist, but every now and then, a flicker of golden light peeked through—her own, uncorrupted magic. A faint black mark pulsed on her chest—the corruption shard.
"Almost time," she said, her voice cold, but trembling. "The Lotus Heart will be mine. Then Dark Crow can't control me anymore."
Kael tensed. "We need to free her before the ritual starts. The chains—they're feeding corruption into her. If we wait too long, the Heart will weaken… and Lina will die."
Bright grabbed a mango from his sack, but hesitated. "Agus said no mango distractions unless desperate… this feels desperate." He hurled it, hitting a metal cage with a clang. But this time, he followed up—tossing the sticky mango skin onto the stone floor.
Morrigan spun, eyes narrowing. "Intruders," she hissed. Corruption surged around her, forming into dark tentacles. But as she raised her hands, she froze—staring at Lina's face. "You look like… your mother. She was my friend."
For a second, her eyes softened. Then Dark Crow spoke, his voice like gravel. "Focus, Morrigan. Or the shard will make you regret it."
Corruption roared within her, and she snarled. "No! She betrayed me! Joined the Council's enemies!"
"Now!" Tan Kai yelled. He charged, Lotus Spear glowing bright.
Morrigan's tentacles lashed out. Tan Kai sliced through them with the spear—green light burning the corruption away. But one tentacle snaked around his ankle, yanking him down. He hit the ground hard, the spear skittering away.
"Tan Kai!" Lila yelled.
Yara's voice echoed from the tunnel. "We're here!" She ran in, fire herb blazing. "Nam, Gareth, Tong—cover the guards! Agus, help Tan Kai!"
Nam's eyes locked on the lotus-tattooed guard. "Mentor!" She ran to her, pulling a vial of golden lotus juice from her pack. "Hold on—I'm here!"
Gareth and Tong fought side by side, swords swinging—Gareth's eyes blazing as he cut down a guard, muttering, "For my village."
Lila ran to Lina, holding up her red stone. It glowed bright, pushing back the corruption on Lina's skin. "Mom! Wake up! We're here!"
Lina's eyes fluttered open. "Lila… Tan Kai…" Her voice was weak, but she reached for Lila, her fingers glowing with golden light.
Morrigan roared, corruption forming into a sword. "Stay away from her!" She charged at Lila—but froze mid-step, her hand clutching her chest. The corruption shard pulsed, and she screamed. "No… stop… I don't want to hurt her."
Dark Crow laughed. "Foolish. You're mine." He raised his hand, and the shard glowed. Morrigan's eyes turned dark. "Yes you do! She's in the way!"
She swung, and Agus stepped in front of Lila, sword clashing with Morrigan's. The corruption sword hissed, crawling onto Agus's blade. He pulled back, his hand burning.
"Agus!" Nam yelled, tossing him a handful of golden lotus petals. She was still working on her mentor—dabbing the juice on the corruption veins. "Rub them on your blade!"
Agus rubbed them on his blade, and the corruption sizzled away.
Bright freed the last spirit, and it glowed bright—joining the others, swarming around Morrigan. "Spirit power! Take that!" He grabbed another mango, squeezing it—juice spraying into a guard's eyes. "Mango juice attack!"
The spirits' light burned the corruption, and Morrigan screamed—half in pain, half in relief. "Get it off me! Please!"
Lina pushed herself up, her chest glowing brighter. The Lotus Heart—its light spreading, warming the chamber. "Morrigan… I remember you. Mom told me stories. You saved her once. The corruption isn't you. Let me help."
Morrigan froze. Tears filled her eyes. "It's too late. Dark Crow has the shard. He'll kill me if I don't take the Heart."
"The Council's lies," Lina said. "The Heart doesn't give power to control—it gives power to heal. Let me show you."
Dark Crow roared. "Enough!" He lunged at Lina, a corruption dagger in his hand. "The Heart is mine!"
Corruption roared within Morrigan, and she lunged—this time, in front of Lina. "No!" Her sword clashed with Dark Crow's dagger. "I'm done being your puppet!"
The shard pulsed, and Morrigan screamed, but she didn't back down.
Tan Kai grabbed the Lotus Spear, running to Lina. He stabbed the spear into the altar, green light bursting outward, wrapping around the chains. The corruption hissed, retreating.
Yara pressed her fire herb to the chains. "Now!"
Flames erupted—green and orange, mixing with the spear's light. The chains cracked, then broke.
Lina fell into Tan Kai's arms, weak but alive. She turned to Morrigan, her golden light glowing. "The Heart can heal you. Let it."
Morrigan hesitated. Then she dropped her sword, falling to her knees. "Please. I'm so tired."
Lina stepped forward, placing her hand on Morrigan's chest. The Lotus Heart's light surged, wrapping around Morrigan. The corruption shard hissed, burning away—revealing a woman exhausted, but free.
When the light faded, Morrigan breathed deeply, her skin clear. "Thank you. I'm sorry. For everything."
Dark Crow snarled, backing away. "Traitors! I'll hunt you all down!" He pulled a black stone from his pocket—another tracker—and crushed it. "The Council will be here by nightfall!" He vanished into a cloud of corruption.
The guards fled, scared of the spirits and the light. Nam's mentor gasped, the corruption fading from her skin. "Nam… you found me."
Nam hugged her, crying. "I told you I would."
Kael picked up the crushed tracker stone, his face hardening. "He's calling reinforcements. But I know the Forge's secret exit—we can get out before they come."
Lina nodded, her light dimming as she grew tired. "Then we run. But first—seal the Abyss Ore. The Heart can do it."
Agus smiled, clapping Kael on the back. "Lead the way. And Morrigan—you coming?"
Morrigan stood, brushing off her robe. "I have to make this right. I know Dark Crow's base—hidden in the Western Peaks, behind a corruption ward. I'll show you. And I'll fight with you."
Bright walked over, holding up his last mango. "Found you, and I've got one mango left. Victory mango. For you, Lina. And Morrigan—since you switched sides. Nam, your mentor too—team mango share."
Lina laughed, weak but happy. "Thank you, Bright."
Morrigan smiled, taking a small bite. "It's sweet. Like the fruit we used to eat, back when I fought for good."
The chamber grew quiet, the spirits' light softening. Lila hugged Lina tight, tucking the extra blanket around her. "I missed you."
"I missed you too," Lina said, kissing her forehead.
Tan Kai looked at his friends—Bright, grinning with mango juice on his chin; Lila, happy and safe; Yara, Nam and her mentor, Gareth, Tong, Agus, Kael, Morrigan—all alive, all together.
The Eastern Forge's corruption was gone. Lina was free. The Lotus Heart's power was revealed.
But the Shadow Council was still out there. Dark Crow. The Western Peaks base. The Abyss Ore.
The fight wasn't over. But today, they'd won.
And they had mangoes. Always mangoes.
Outside, the sun shone bright—melting the snow, warming the mountain. The Eastern Forge's smokestacks fell silent, no more corruption pouring out.
Tan Kai held the crushed tracker stone in his hand, staring at it. Tonight, they'd run. Tomorrow, they'd plan.
Tomorrow, they'd hunt Dark Crow.
But for now, they were safe. They were together.
And that was enough.