The windy forest trail felt endless, though Sun had only been traveling for a few days. The climate was harsh—shifting without warning—and the air was thin, biting with every breath.
Not only do I have to watch for the Emperor’s military, Sun thought, but the wildlife out here… it’s said they have more affinity for Spirit than humans.
Anything could kill me.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, he decided it was safer to set up camp for the night. Tonight was… unusually quiet. But peaceful nonetheless.
Sitting by the crackling fire, Sun closed his eyes and tried to picture his father’s face. He’d been so young when he left—barely old enough to remember.
An uneasy smile tugged at his lips, laced with a flicker of his usual confidence.
“He was strong,” Sun murmured to himself. “I can be too.”
He placed his hands out and began to channel his Spirit energy. A few sparks of light flickered between his fingers, the glow dancing in the dark—
until a sudden voice shattered the silence.
“Hey! You okay there, kid?”
Sun jumped to his feet, spinning toward the voice. He’d been so locked into meditation, he hadn’t sensed anyone approaching.
“Yeah—I’m fine!” he called back, eyes scanning.
A tall young man stepped from the clearing. Sharp-featured, handsome, with piercing green eyes and a laid-back grin.
“Not used to seeing too many fires out here,” the stranger said. “Nobody’s usually out this late.”
Sun narrowed his eyes playfully. “Well… you are.”
They paused, then both let out a short laugh.
“The name’s Ant,” the stranger offered. “I’m out here searching for a rare herb. Sells well in town.”
Sun tilted his head. “What town’s nearby?”
Ant hesitated, then shrugged. “I don’t usually tell strangers where I live… but Petalgrove’s a few hours that way.” He nodded over his shoulder.
“Oh—sorry! I’m Sun.”
After thanking Ant, Sun shared why he was out there, giving a rough description of his father. Ant frowned and shook his head.
“Haven’t seen anyone like that,” he said.
Sun offered to share the camp for the night and travel with him to Petalgrove come morning. Ant agreed.
At dawn, the two set off, walking side by side through the shifting woods. They spoke for hours, sharing pieces of their pasts and getting a feel for one another. Eventually, they reached a creek—one Ant had clearly been searching for.
“Here!” Ant rushed ahead, kneeling by a patch of yellow flowers. “Finally found them!” He looked up and pointed. “And the town’s just on the other side. You go on ahead, Sun.”
Sure enough, beyond the creek, the trees gave way to a small clearing. Buildings peeked through the canopy.
“Later, Ant,” Sun called back.
Petalgrove was vibrant—green in a way the world rarely was anymore. The air had a strange, lively feel, foreign to Sun.
Despite its beauty, the streets were oddly empty. A few people moved in the distance, but not many. It almost felt like a ghost town.
Still, Sun had a purpose: find any leads on the resistance… or his father.
But where to start?
He noticed the military presence right away. Guards in dull Spirit armor patrolled with cold, watchful eyes.
Ugh… of course, Sun thought bitterly. Rich town like this is always crawling with those creeps.
He pulled his hood a little lower. Need to be careful.
As he wandered deeper into the town, he passed what looked like a run-down pub.
Perfect.
He took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The pub was louder than expected—buzzing with chatter despite the time of day. Sun scanned the room carefully.
In the corner sat a girl in black robes and a hood, purple hair peeking out beneath the fabric.
At the bar, a large man laughed uproariously, his Spirit energy so palpable it prickled the air around him. He wasn’t even trying to hide it—but he wasn’t wearing militia armor either.
Sun’s eyes drifted back to the girl. Quiet. Still. Watching everything.
He took a breath, steadied himself, and began walking toward her.
Sun took a slow breath as he crossed the room toward the girl. She didn’t move. Just kept her gaze low, like she already knew he was coming.
Up close, her presence was even heavier. That same quiet power he’d felt in the air—it was coming from her. She had a sharpness about her, but not in a threatening way. More like… she was holding something back.
Her purple hair fell slightly over one eye beneath the black hood, and her red-gold eyes locked on him before he could say a word.
“You’re not from around here,” she said flatly, before he could open his mouth.
Sun blinked. “That obvious?”
She didn’t answer. Just went back to her drink.
He pulled out the stool across from her and sat, cautiously. “I’m not looking for trouble.”
“No one ever is,” she muttered.
Sun rested his elbows on the table. “Name’s Sun.”
She looked at him, unimpressed. “Good for you.”
He let out a small, awkward chuckle. “Right. Solid start.”
The two sat in silence for a moment. Not tense—but not exactly warm, either.
He glanced around. “Place is lively. But quiet at the same time. Strange vibe.”
She looked up again, slower this time. “That’s Petalgrove. Pretty on the outside, rotting underneath.”
Sun studied her more carefully. “You live here?”
“I stay where I want,” she said, finishing her drink. “And leave when I need to.”
Something in her tone had an edge to it. Like a warning. But Sun didn’t feel threatened. If anything, he was curious.
“I’m looking for someone,” he said after a beat. “My father. He joined the resistance years ago. Never came back.”
She didn’t react right away. Then: “Plenty of people don’t come back.”
Sun leaned forward a little. “You ever hear of a man named Darien? Strong, dark hair, always wore a worn red scarf?”
Her eyes flickered—just slightly—but she shook her head. “Never met him.”
Sun nodded slowly. “Figured. Had to ask.”
“You chasing ghosts or just playing hero?” she asked suddenly.
He was taken aback. “Neither. Just trying to do something right.”
That made her pause. For the first time, her expression shifted—not much, but just enough. The edge softened. A little.
“You’re too hopeful for a place like this,” she said quietly.
Sun smiled. “And you’re too angry for someone who hasn’t even told me their name.”
Another pause. Then, almost reluctantly, she said:
“Violet.”
Sun leaned back. “Nice to meet you, Violet.”
She didn’t say anything else. But she didn’t walk away either.
Sun barely had time to get comfortable before the door behind him creaked open.
Three men stepped into the pub, dressed in ragged leather and partial Spirit gear—scavenged pieces, worn like trophies. They didn’t look like military, but their swagger screamed authority.
Violet’s eyes flicked toward them, just for a second, then back to her drink.
Sun noticed it too late.
The biggest one locked eyes with him. “You. New guy.”
Sun raised a brow. “Yeah?”
The man grinned, missing a few teeth. “Don’t remember giving you a welcome. You wandering in here without tribute, without respect? That’s bold.”
Violet muttered, “Idiot,” under her breath. It wasn’t clear if she meant the thug or Sun.
“I’m not here to cause problems,” Sun said, standing slowly.
The other two flanked around. One cracked his knuckles, the other tapped a blade on the table.
“This is Petalgrove, stranger,” the leader sneered. “You don’t get to breathe here without someone letting you.”
Sun’s hands twitched. He could feel Spirit energy coiling inside him. He didn’t want to fight—not here, not like this—but he wasn’t going to let them walk over him either.
One of the goons lunged first.
Sun ducked the swing and shoved the guy back.
People started clearing out. Chairs scraped, drinks spilled. Violet didn’t move.
The leader charged next. Sun blocked once, twice, but he was outnumbered—his defense slipping fast.
Then—out of nowhere—
CRACK.
A solid punch landed from behind the thug’s jaw, sending him tumbling. Sun looked up to see Ant, arms up, flashing a cocky grin.
“Figured you might need a hand,” he said.
Sun staggered back as the third man tried to grab him, but Ant yanked him off and tossed him aside like it was nothing.
The scuffle ended almost as quickly as it started. The three thugs groaned on the ground, too embarrassed to get back up.
Ant looked around. “We should get out of here before someone more official shows up. I know a place where we can hideout!”
Sun glanced back at Violet, who was now standing—calm but watchful. Their eyes met.
Sun turned and followed Ant out the door, heart still racing.
As they ran down the street toward the edge of town, Sun asked, “How’d you know I’d be there?”
Ant smirked. “Didn’t. Just came to sell those herbs and just happened find you there. Dumb luck.”
Sun wasn’t sure if he believed that. But Ant had just saved him, so he was grateful.
The buildings thinned as they hit the outskirts. The road opened up into grassy hills and crooked trees—quiet and away from patrol eyes.
Ant stopped by an old broken fence. “You looking for the resistance?” he asked without turning.
Sun stiffened. “…Yeah.”
Ant looked back at him. That smile was still there, but his eyes looked sharper now. More focused.
“Then you’ll wanna hear what I’ve got to say.”
They crested a final hill as the sun dipped below the treeline, painting the sky in deep oranges and bruised purples.
Ant stopped. The wind picked up. Everything suddenly felt still.
Sun slowed behind him. That gut feeling again—louder this time.
“Where is it?” Sun asked, eyes scanning. “The hideout?”
Ant didn’t turn around.
“You ever think about how easy it is to trick someone who wants to believe?” he said. Voice lower. Sharper.
Sun’s hand dropped toward his side.
Ant finally faced him—different now. Smile gone. Eyes cold. He tossed something into the air, and it shimmered with light. A small communication shard—Spirit-encoded. It flickered out.
“There is no hideout,” Ant said.
“What is this?” Sun asked, stepping back.
Ant tilted his head. “This? This is my promotion.”
Then his body shifted—shrunk. His right arm compressed instantly into a thinner, shorter version, almost like a child’s. He disappeared for a breath and reappeared behind Sun with full-size legs and a now-regular size left fist, swinging.
CRACK.
The hit sent Sun flying into the dirt.
“Not a bad spirit ability, huh? Ant called out, rolling his neck. Partial reduction. I can shrink any part of myself at will. Makes things… interesting.”
“C’mon, Sun. Don’t be so sad. I know you have a Spirit ability too, so let’s see it kid.”
Sun coughed, wiped blood from his lip, and stood.
He surged forward with a burst of buffed energy, fists glowing. The two clashed—Ant warping and twisting mid-fight. One moment he had tiny legs and regular arms, darting low; the next, normal size, striking with freakish speed.
Sun landed a punch to the chest, but Ant shrunk his torso at the last second, minimizing impact.
“You fight smart,” Ant said, grinning now, “but I fight weird.”
Sun charged in again—fainting left, ducking the enlarged arm, then landing a clean hit to Ant’s ribs. Ant wheezed, backing up.
Sun took a deep breath, Spirit swirling around his hands.
“Still think I’m just some kid?” he asked.
Ant looked up with a bloody grin.
“No. I think you’re almost there.”
Then it happened—too fast.
One of the hidden soldiers, cloaked in Spirit armor, emerged behind Sun.
Before he could react—
Shhkk.
A blade sank deep into his back. Sun gasped, his body jerking forward. His spirit pulsed violently—then faltered.
He dropped to his knees.
Ant wiped his mouth, standing. “Told you, Sun. It’s never the hit you see coming.”
But before Ant could finish him—
A violent crash erupted to their left. A wave of purple flames tore across the battlefield.
Flames spiraled.
Violet landed in a burst of raw emotion and fury, cloak whipping in the wind. Her eyes burned gold-red, streaks of violet fire lacing her arms.
She raised a hand—
And FWOOSH!
A blast of condensed purple flame struck the soldier who stabbed Sun, sending his body flying into a tree with a sickening thud.
Ant turned, arms shrinking defensively. “You again?”
Violet didn’t answer. She was already moving.
Her attacks came in hard, calculated bursts. Ant shifted his limbs mid-fight, dodging narrowly. But Violet’s strikes were too fast, her power too wild.
One landed—clean across his side—leaving a deep purple burn seared into his ribs. He howled.
“Ahhrrrgg!!” I’ll die even if I keep dodging the sword he thought, stumbling back.
Before Violet could finish him, Ant shrank—his whole body compressing down, almost mouse-sized—and slipped into the grass.
Gone.
Violet dropped to her knees beside Sun, whose eyes were fluttering. Blood pooled beneath him, but he was still breathing.
“Stay with me,” she said, voice steadier than she felt.
Sun looked up at her, eyes hazy.
“What are you doing here?” he murmured.
“Idiots like you can’t see anything, can you.”
He smiled faintly.
And as the darkness pulled at him, his thoughts drifted—not to battle, not to pain—
but to warm arms holding him as a boy, the scent of lavender and firewood.
Just like last time, he thought, as the world slipped away.
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