Mystic and the mural clashed one final time, the shockwaves rattling the ancient temple.
But this time, the strike was far too strong—Mystic was sent hurtling back, her massive body bursting straight through the temple walls, splintering wood and shattering vines as she was thrown deep into the forest.
"Mystic!" Lufei shouted, fury twisting her voice. Her antlers burned with soul light as she fired a concentrated soul strike at the mural.
The painted creature shrieked without sound, its form cracking apart like glass before dispersing into nothingness.
She didn't waste another breath.
Lufei charged after Mystic, bounding through the forest and following the wreckage path carved into the ground by her sister's body.
The trail of broken trees and gouged earth stretched far until she finally spotted her.
Mystic lay sprawled across the forest floor, battered and broken.
Her massive sides rose and fell faintly, but her body told the truth of her pain.
All four fins were sliced and torn, her tail marred with deep gashes and bruises, and worst of all—the fin atop her head near her blowhole hung by shreds, bleeding heavily.
Lufei circled around Mystic's battered body, her hooves pressing into the dirt as she lowered her head.
The glow from her antlers pulsed brighter, weaving threads of soul energy into the air. The forest air pressed heavy, carrying the smell of wet soil, torn leaves, and the faint salt of the nearby ocean.
The worst wound came first—the torn fin near Mystic's blowhole.
Lufei tilted her antlers carefully above it, releasing a stream of qi that stitched the shredded flesh back together, sealing the blood flow little by little.
Next, she moved to the fins. She pressed her hooves into the ground, channeling soul force upward through her body, letting it flow through her antlers like a current. The air around them seemed to bend under the weight of her soul power, the pressure making the trees groan as though the forest itself was holding its breath.
The cracks and cuts along Mystic's side knit slowly under the glow, though it was exhausting work.
Her heart ached with every wound she mended.
Mystic's tail was gashed and bruised, her sleek skin marred with deep injuries.
The sight of her "large guppy fish" broken like this filled Lufei with regret.
"Oh, my dear," she whispered through her breath, "if only I had been stronger…"
But words could not close wounds.
Only resolve could.
So she continued, antlers shining until the forest shadows retreated from their light, refusing to stop until her sister could breathe steady again.
Minutes bled into hours—or maybe it only felt that way.
Lufei's breath grew ragged, her legs trembling as she kept the flow steady.
The qi in her antlers dimmed, then flared, then dimmed again, every surge burning her core dry.
But still she pressed on. The air smelled of crushed bark and damp earth, grounding her as her vision blurred.
Mystic stirred faintly under her light, a pained rumble rolling through her throat like thunder trapped in a stormcloud.
One eye cracked open, cloudy but alive.
Lufei pressed her forehead gently against Mystic's battered skin, antlers still glowing faintly.
"You stubborn guppy fish," she murmured, tears wetting her muzzle.
"Don't you dare leave me in this cursed gate space. Not here. Not like this."
The words slipped out as both command and prayer.
Slowly—agonizingly—Mystic's breathing steadied, each rise of her massive body stronger than the last.
Only then did Lufei let herself collapse to her knees, antlers flickering out at last.
Around them, the forest was nothing but ruin, trees snapped like twigs, soil gouged in deep trenches. The smell of sap bled into the salty wind.
But within that wreckage lay her sister, still alive, still with her.
And for Lufei, that was enough.
after Lufei has passed out
Lufei's body finally gave out, folding sideways into the dirt, her antlers dull and lifeless. Her chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths. The soul-light that had been burning so fiercely moments ago was now nothing but faint sparks clinging to the edges of her antlers, flickering out one by one.
For a moment, the forest was silent except for the soft whistle of wind through the shattered trees. The smell of broken earth mixed with sea air, the world holding still.
Mystic shifted weakly, her body trembling. She let out a low, mournful call—half rumble, half whistle—that rolled through the forest like an echo of grief. The great whale's head tilted, her unsteady gaze falling upon Lufei's small, collapsed form.
Despite the pain screaming through her torn flesh, Mystic forced her massive body forward inch by inch. Each movement scraped her wounds against the broken earth, but still she dragged herself closer, until her shadow fell over her sister.
Carefully, she lowered her battered body, pressing her forehead against Lufei's side. The contact was clumsy and shaky, but her intention clear—if she could not fight, if she could not heal, she would shield.
Mystic's clouds stirred faintly above, a tiny flicker of lightning sparking within them, defensive by instinct. The mist curled downward, draping Lufei's collapsed form in a thin veil of cool, damp air that smelled of ocean spray.
It wasn't much. It wasn't healing.
But it was protection.
Mystic's single open eye glimmered faintly, as though daring the shattered forest to challenge them again.
Then, with her last shred of strength, she gave a soft, reassuring hum—a promise that she would keep watch.
Even if it killed her.
Mystic used her clouds, weaving them gently beneath Lufei's limp body until they lifted her from the dirt like a cradle. With what little strength remained, Mystic shaped another cloud large enough to hold her own massive frame, resting her battered body on top of it.
Slowly, painfully, she guided them both through the broken forest. Every drift forward made her head swim, her wounds screaming with protest. But she pushed on until the trees gave way to the shore.
There, hidden by overgrowth and tide, Mystic spotted what she needed—an empty cave, its entrance veiled by moss and seaweed. With a flicker of will, she thickened her fog, wrapping the shoreline in a curtain of mist so dense it concealed the cave entirely.
It cost her everything. The clouds trembled beneath her body, dispersing as her strength finally gave out. Mystic and Lufei sank gently to the cave floor together, safe but utterly spent. Darkness claimed them both.
They slept for an entire day.
Mystic was the first to stir, her body still aching but her spirit restless. Turning her gaze, she saw Lufei lying beside her—still unconscious, her breathing shallow but steady.
For once, Mystic's usual playfulness didn't rise to the surface. Instead, she felt a deep, heavy weight in her chest.
She thought of their master—Fan Yumei—and the endless hours of harsh training. The lessons drilled into them: survive without help, rely on your skills, protect your family. At the time, Mystic had laughed, shrugged, teased her way through, never taking it as seriously as Lufei did.
But now? Seeing her sister broken and collapsed because of her? The truth struck harder than any blow.
"If I had been more careful…" she whispered to herself, voice trembling.
Determined, Mystic left the cave, floating low through the forest. Her master's teachings guided her eyes—she searched for herbs she recognized, those that carried strong qi and healing properties. With careful precision, she collected them, wrapping them in soft leaves.
Not stopping there, she swam higher into the canopy, finding clusters of fruits, nuts, and leaves safe for Lufei to eat. She gathered as much as she could carry, balancing the weight with her clouds.
As she returned to the cave, Mystic's thoughts sharpened into a vow.
She would not be the careless one anymore. She would not be the burden, forcing her siblings to carry her mistakes. Lufei's life had been at risk because of her recklessness—and that was something she could never allow again.
Mystic laid the herbs and fruit beside her sister, her massive body curling protectively around Lufei.
"Master…" she whispered softly into the silence, "I won't fail you again. I'll grow stronger. For her. For Maxius. For all of us."
Her vow echoed only within the cave, but her heart swore it true.
Outside, high above the ruined forest, a shadow passed silently over the land—so vast it covered half the island before disappearing into the horizon.