The lotus tree loomed overhead, its trunk thick as three men standing shoulder to shoulder, bark ridged like ancient stone. Branches spiraled upward, weaving through the golden valley light, draped in pink-and-white blooms that glowed soft as candlefire.
Petals drifted down like slow snow, settling on the gnarled roots coiling into the earth—roots that looked almost alive, twitching faintly when the wind stirred.
Tong stopped a few paces from the tree, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He stared at the ground, then up at the blooms, as if half-expecting something to jump out.
"It's under there," he said, nodding at a cluster of roots that jutted from the dirt like giant fingers. "Lina hid it in a stone box, buried deep enough the rain couldn't wash it away."
Prodding one of the roots with his stick, Bright stepped forward, wincing when the wood bounced off the tough bark. "No weird plant monsters this time, right? Last time vines tried to strangle me, I still have nightmares."
He nudged Tong with his elbow. "You'd warn us if your old boss planted any 'surprises,' yeah?"
A faint, fleeting smile tugged at Tong's lips—his first real one since they'd met. "The tree's gentle. It only attacks those who mean harm."
He glanced at his arm, where Nagasith's mark still glowed pale green, then quickly looked away. "Nagasith tried to dig here once, years ago. The roots wrapped around his legs and nearly crushed them. He's been scared of this tree ever since."
Nam knelt, brushing a layer of petals and dirt from the ground. Her fingers brushed something hard, and she pried away a clod of earth to reveal a stone box.
It was carved with the same lotus-serpent mark that blazed on Tan Kai and Yara's arms. "Found it," she said, running her thumb over the mark. "Locked tight. No keyhole—needs your bond to open."
Tan Kai and Yara stepped closer, their shoulders brushing. The pendant at Tan Kai's chest blazed, the jade shard inside humming so loud he could feel it in his bones.
Yara's hand found his, her palm warm and steady. He squeezed it back. "Just like the valley gate," she said, quiet but sure. "Our energy together—nothing else will work."
Tan Kai nodded. Together, they knelt beside the box, pressing their joined hands to the carved mark. Gold light seeped from his palm, green from Yara's, weaving together as they flowed into the stone.
The box rumbled, dust falling from its edges, and the lid creaked open slowly. Inside, a velvet lining—soft despite the years—held half a jade shard, glowing bright as the one in Tan Kai's pendant.
The moment the two shards sensed each other, they pulsed in unison. A wave of light burst forth, throwing the team back a step.
When it faded, the shards hovered in the air, spinning slowly. They drifted toward each other, clicking together with a soft chime that echoed through the valley—forming a full lotus heart jade, smooth and perfect, carved with a lotus in bloom.
It drifted down into Tan Kai's palm, warm as sunlight on skin.
A vision flooded his mind, so vivid he could almost feel the grass under his knees:
Agus and Lina, kneeling under this same tree, the full jade in Lina's trembling hands. "I'm scared," she whispered, her silver-green hair falling over her shoulders. "If Heaven finds us… what if I hurt you?"
Agus took her hand, pressing it to his chest. "You won't. We have each other—that's all we need."
He kissed her knuckles, then gently pried the jade from her fingers. Bending down, he dug a small hole in the dirt with his hands, burying the stone deep. "For when the bond is strong enough to wield it without fear."
The vision shattered like glass. Tan Kai blinked, gasping for air, and Yara's hand was on his shoulder, steadying him.
"You saw them, didn't you?" she asked. "They hid it for us—whoever came next to finish what they started."
Master's phantom flickered into view, his form brighter than it had been in weeks—almost solid, fed by the jade's light. His eyes were warm, proud, as he looked at the stone.
"The jade was never just about controlling Naga blood," he said. "It's about balancing it—light and venom, past and present… you and Yara. Two halves of a whole."
He stepped closer. "Wield it together, and nothing can stand against you. But remember: its power comes from your bond, not greed. That's what Agus and Lina knew."
Before Tan Kai could speak, a roar cut through the valley—loud, furious, shaking petals from the tree.
Nagasith burst from the trees, his scales shimmering with rage, venom dripping from his claws like black ink. Behind him, three black-robed figures stumbled forward, eyes blank, venom oozing from their fists.
"Give me the jade!" he snarled, his voice echoing off the valley walls. "It's mine to rule!"
Prodding the air with his stick, Bright grinned, though his hands tightened around the wood. "Speak of the devil. And here I thought we'd get five minutes of peace."
Nam pulled a handful of dried fire herbs from her pouch, crushing them between her fingers. "Stick to the plan—we distract, you two wield the jade. Got it?"
Tong stepped forward, jaw tight, hands fisting at his sides—as if fighting the last of Nagasith's control. "I'll help. I owe you that."
He tore a strip of cloth from his sleeve, wrapping it tight around his glowing arm. "Nagasith's scales are soft under his arms and throat. Aim there. His venom can't stand against lotus fire."
A cold, sharp laugh spilled from Nagasith. "Traitor! They'll cast you aside like garbage!"
Tong didn't flinch. "I'd rather die helping them than live as your puppet. You lied about my sister—I'm done."
Nagasith snarled, coiling back like a snake. Black, viscous venom erupted from his palms, twisting into slithering shapes that hissed toward the group.
Tong hit the dirt, rolling aside as one venom snake burned a black hole in the grass. His hand closed around a sharp rock, and he hurled it at Nagasith's temple.
The stone connected with a crack. Nagasith stumbled, his snarl cutting off with a grunt.
"Nice shot!" Bright yelled, darting to Nagasith's left flank. He jabbed his stick at the serpent's underarm, and Nagasith hissed, swatting him away with a claw that grazed Bright's shoulder.
Bright yelped but didn't stop—dancing back, he jabbed again to keep Nagasith distracted.
Nam tossed her crushed fire herbs into the air. They exploded in orange light that washed over the robed figures.
They screamed, skin smoking as the fire burned through the venom. One by one, they collapsed, their eyes clearing. "Now, Tan Kai! Yara—now!"
Tan Kai clutched the jade, Yara's hand sliding over his. The stone blazed, hot enough to sear his skin, sending a jolt of pain up his arm.
This wasn't like the shield—raw, powerful, heavy. Yara's grip tightened, her energy weaving with his—cool venom balancing warm light, taking the edge off the pain.
"It's too much," she gasped. "Don't let go!"
"Together," Tan Kai said, through gritted teeth.
"Together," Yara echoed.
They raised the jade high. A gold-green beam shot into the sky—so bright it darkened the valley—then crashed down, wrapping around Nagasith like a net.
He roared, thrashing, but the net constricted tighter. "No! The jade is mine!"
For a split second, Tan Kai saw it: a young Naga, small and alone, clinging to power to never be weak again. Then the image was gone.
The light intensified, burning through Nagasith's venom until he collapsed, scales dimming to dull gray, unconscious but alive.
The light ebbed. The jade cooled, but Tan Kai's arm throbbed, muscles aching as if he'd lifted a mountain. He stumbled back, Yara catching him by the elbow. They sank to their knees, gasping.
Bright collapsed beside them, shoulder bleeding but grinning. "Well… we won! Kinda hurt, but we won!" He prodded his shoulder, wincing.
Nam knelt beside the robed figures, checking their pulses. "The venom's gone," she said, surprised. "The jade purged it. They'll be okay."
Tong ran to one figure—a girl younger than him, with his dark eyes. He shook her shoulder, and when she opened her eyes, he pulled her into a tight hug, tears streaming.
"Lila," he whispered. "I'm so sorry. I should've found you sooner."
Lila hugged him back, crying. "I knew you'd come, brother."
Master's phantom stood beside Tan Kai and Yara, his light dimming like a fading candle. But he smiled, warm and proud.
"You did it," he said. "Agus and Lina's story—you made it right."
Yara's eyes glistened. "Will we see you again?"
Master nodded. "In the lotus petals, in the jade's glow, in your bond. I'll always be with you."
His gaze swept over the team: Bright's grin, Nam's smile, Tong and Lila's clasped hands. "Take care of each other. That's the greatest power—stronger than jade."
He vanished in a flutter of lotus petals, one drifting down to land on Tan Kai's hand.
Tan Kai closed his fingers around the petal, then the jade, and took Yara's hand. For the first time, he didn't feel like an outsider—he belonged here, with these people.
The past wasn't a weight anymore; it was a light, guiding him forward.
"You okay?" Yara asked, squeezing his hand.
Tan Kai smiled. "Better than okay."
Bright stood up, wincing as Nam tied a bandage around his shoulder. "Hey—can we talk about mangoes? I'm starving."
Nam rolled her eyes, laughing. "Yes, Bright. After we lock Nagasith in a root cage the tree will guard."
Tong and Lila joined them, Lila's hand in his. "Thank you," Tong said, earnest. "For saving her. For giving me a second chance."
Tan Kai stood, pulling Yara with him. "Stay with us. We're a team now—no 'repaying' needed."
Yara squeezed his hand. "Together."
The sun dipped low, painting the sky pink and gold. The valley was quiet, thick with lotus scent. The fight was over. The past was at rest.
Ahead, there was only the future—bright, warm, and together.
Yet deep beneath the lotus roots, where the stone box had been buried, something stirred. A faint tremor, a soft crawl of something unseen.
Quiet. Almost unnoticeable.
Waiting.