The valley wind turned cool as the sun dipped below the mountain tops. The lotuses in the lake still glowed—fainter now, like they were holding their breath—and Tan Kai's grip on the Lotus Spear tightened. The wood of the handle was smooth, worn from Lina's hands long ago.
"Tong, Bright—get those rocks stacked by the tunnel mouth," Agus said, his voice still tight from his wound. He leaned against a tree, watching as the two boys hauled boulders. "Make a wall. Slow 'em down when they ride in."
Bright grunted, dropping a rock with a thud. "Why do I always get the heavy stuff? Can't we use… I dunno, magic? Or mangoes? Mangoes are way lighter."
Tong rolled his eyes, stacking another rock on top. "Mangoes won't stop a Purge Cannon. Now move. The hoofbeats are getting closer."
Nam knelt by the lake, crushing fire herbs into a small clay pot. Lila knelt beside her, handing her dried lotus leaves. "What do these do?" Lila asked, her fingers brushing a leaf.
"Smoke," Nam said, pouring water into the pot. "When the soldiers come, we'll light it. The smoke'll blur their vision. And if it gets in their eyes? Burns like fire." She winked. "Thanks to the lotus sap. Lina knew what she was doing with these plants."
Yara walked over to Tan Kai, her fire herb glowing soft in her palm. "You ready?" she asked, nodding at the Lotus Spear. Its green blade hummed, faint but steady.
Tan Kai nodded, but his hands felt clammy. "What if I mess up? What if the spear doesn't work?"
Agus heard him. He pushed off the tree and limped over, placing a hand on Tan Kai's shoulder. "Lina made that spear for this. For you. She said the person who wields it needs to care more about the valley than themselves. That's you, Tan Kai. Always has been."
He adjusted Tan Kai's grip on the spear—fingers higher up the handle, elbow locked. "Like this. When the Cannon fires, point the blade at the light. Let the spear drink it in. Don't fight it. Just… let it flow."
Tan Kai tried the stance. It felt right, like his body had done it before. He nodded. "Got it."
The hoofbeats were loud now—thudding, rhythmic, shaking the dirt under their feet. Bright froze, staring at the valley entrance. "They're here," he said, his joke voice gone.
Everyone turned. Dust billowed over the hilltop, and then they saw them: a line of soldiers in polished silver armor, their faces hidden behind expressionless visors. At the front, a cart—big, wooden, with a long metal tube pointing toward the lake. The Purge Cannon.
Lila grabbed Tong's arm. He squeezed her hand. "Stay behind the rocks. I'll be right there."
Nam lit the herb pot. Smoke curled up, thick and orange, drifting toward the soldiers. They slowed, shouting to each other, their disciplined formation wavering for a moment.
"Good," Nam muttered. "Buy us time."
One soldier broke from the ranks, charging toward Bright. He yelped, grabbing a rock and throwing it—hard. It hit the soldier's helmet with a dull clang. The soldier staggered and fell off his horse, groaning.
"Whoa," Bright said, staring at his hand. "I… I did that."
Tong grinned. "Told you mangoes aren't the only useful thing around here."
Yara ran forward, her fire herb held high. She blew on it, and small flames shot out—hitting the soldiers' horses. The horses reared, throwing their riders. "Keep 'em busy!" she yelled.
But then the Cannon moved. Two soldiers cranked a handle, and the metal tube began to glow a deep, angry red from within. Agus's face went pale. "Tan Kai! Now!"
Tan Kai ran to the lake's edge, the Lotus Spear held high. The Cannon fired—a searing beam of crimson light, hot enough to make the air itself shimmer and scream. It streaked toward the heart of the lake.
Tan Kai planted his feet and pointed the spear.
The beam struck the green blade with the force of a mountain. For a terrifying second, nothing happened. Then, the spear flared—so bright it hurt to look at. The red light crawled up the blade, but it was a violent, resisting force. Tan Kai's arms screamed in protest; the wood of the spear grew hot in his hands. He felt himself being pushed back, his boots skidding through the mud. It's too much, he thought, despair clawing at him.
Then, a softer light—the gentle glow from every lotus in the lake—seemed to gather and flow into his back, steadying him. He remembered Agus's words: Don't fight it. Let it flow.
He took a ragged breath and relaxed his arms, becoming a conduit, not a wall.
The spear hummed, a clear, triumphant note. The red light transformed, melting into a pure, radiant green that exploded outwards—not with violence, but with a wave of cleansing warmth. It washed over the lake, and the lotuses bloomed wider, their petals shimmering with new life. It washed over the soldiers, their armor hissing and smoking, and over the Cannon, its metal tube groaning as it crumpled inward, its deadly light extinguished.
The soldiers, their discipline shattered, yelled and wrestled with their panicked horses. They turned and retreated back over the hill in a disorganized mass, leaving only swirling dust and the scent of ozone behind.
Gone.
Tan Kai dropped to his knees, the spear falling beside him into the soft grass. His arms hung limp, trembling with spent effort. He gasped for air, his heart pounding.
Yara was there in an instant, her hand on his back. "You did it," she whispered, her own voice shaking with relief. "You saved us all."
Bright ran over, cheering. "We won! We actually won! And now—mangoes! I'm gonna find every mango in this valley. Starting now!" He took off toward the trees, yelling about ripe fruit.
Nam laughed, shaking her head. "Never change, Bright."
Lila walked to the water's edge, staring at the lotuses. They pulsed with light, a slow, contented rhythm. "It's breathing," she said, quiet. "The valley can finally breathe again."
Agus limped over and sat heavily beside Tan Kai. He picked up the Lotus Spear, running a reverent finger over the cool, calm blade. "Lina would've been proud. So proud."
Tan Kai looked at him, exhaustion and elation warring in his chest. "Do you think… do you think she's here? Somewhere?"
Agus smiled, his gaze sweeping over the glowing lake, the peaceful valley. "I think she's everywhere. In the water. In the spear. In you." He patted Tan Kai's shoulder. "Always."
The sun set fully, painting the sky dark purple. The lotuses' glow lit the valley, soft and warm. Bright came back, his vest bulging with small, green mangoes.
"Found 'em!" he yelled, triumphantly holding one out to Tan Kai. "Told you I would. Best victory mango ever."
Tan Kai took it. The first bite was explosively sweet and juicy, a taste of pure, hard-won peace.
They sat by the lake, eating mangoes, talking quietly. The hoofbeats were gone. The Cannon was broken. The valley was safe.
For now.
Agus looked up at the emerging stars, his face turning grave. "They'll be back," he said, soft but certain. "The Celestial Court won't let this go. Not ever."
Tan Kai nodded. He picked up the Lotus Spear, its weight familiar and comforting now. "Then we'll be ready. Together."
Yara nodded, her fire herb glowing in agreement. "Together."
Lila held up a glossy black lotus seed, a determined grin on her face. "And next time? We'll have more lotuses. More defenses. More… mangoes."
Everyone laughed. The sound echoed over the lake, mixing with the wind—a sound of defiance and hope.
The valley was quiet. Safe.
For now.
But Tan Kai knew—this wasn't the end. It was just the beginning. And he was ready. With his friends. With Agus. With Lina's spear.
He took another bite of mango. Sweet. Perfect.
Tomorrow would bring new fights. New dangers. But tonight? Tonight they celebrated.
Tonight, the valley belonged to them.