Dawn seeped into the valley soft—pale gold, painting the lotus lake in honey light. Dew sat on the grass like tiny pearls, and Tan Kai woke to the sound of Bright's distant yells.
"Mango tree! I found a mango tree!"
He sat up, rubbing his eyes. The Lotus Spear leaned against the rock beside him, its green blade dimmed to a faint glow. Agus was already up, kneeling by the lake, his gaze not on the water, but fixed eastward, toward the pass they had sealed, his expression unreadable. He looked like he was listening for something far away.
"Morning," Agus said, glancing over. His wound was better—Nam's salve had faded the redness. "Bright's been at it since sunrise. Swears he found a tree with 'the biggest mangoes known to humanity.'"
Tan Kai laughed, standing up. The grass was cool under his feet, and the air smelled like lotus and damp earth. "Let's go see. Before he climbs it and falls."
They walked toward Bright's voice until they saw him: Bright, jumping under a gnarled tree, its branches heavy with green mangoes. Tong stood beside him, arms crossed, and Lila sat on a root, giggling.
"I can almost reach it!" Bright yelled, jumping again. His fingers brushed a mango, but it slipped, thudding to the ground. He groaned. "Stupid tree. Why'd you have to be so tall?"
Tong held out a hand. "Let me. I'm taller." He pulled himself up the trunk easily, plucking three mangoes and tossing them down. Bright caught one, biting into it immediately—juice dripping down his chin.
"Best. Mango. Ever," he mumbled, mouth full. "Way better than the sour berries. You guys want some? There's tons."
Lila took one, peeling it slowly. "Grandma said mangoes grow where the soil's happy," she said, taking a bite. "Guess the valley's really happy now."
Yara and Nam wandered over, both carrying herb bundles. "We found something," Nam said, holding up a small leather pouch. Bright, already sticky, bounded over. "More magic stuff?"
"Practical stuff," Yara corrected, a small flame igniting on her palm to demonstrate. "Lotus leaves—when we dry 'em, they can wrap around the spear or wounds. They hold energy and," she let the flame lick at a leaf, which glowed but didn't burn, "stop heat."
"See?" Nam said, nudging Bright. "Better than just burning your fingers off."
Agus nodded, then tapped Tan Kai's shoulder. "Come with me. Found something by Lina's cave yesterday—forgot to show you."
They walked back to the tunnel mouth. Agus knelt by the stone shelf, moving aside a pile of moss to reveal a wooden box—smaller than the one with the spear, carved with tiny lotus vines.
"Found this under the shelf," he said, opening it. Inside was a leather-bound diary, its pages yellowed but intact, and a folded map, edges frayed. "It's Lina's."
Tan Kai picked up the diary, his fingers brushing the cover. He opened it to the first page—curly letters.
For Tan Kai, if you ever find this—
His breath caught. She'd written it for him.
The valley's safe, but the fight's not over. The Heavenly Court has more than Cannons. They have the "Bone Forge"—a place where they melt down corrupted spirits to make weapons. It's in the West, with the Bronze Drum Clan. They are fierce people, their skin marked with swirling grey tattoos from the forge-smoke, and they value strength and honor. Lina had traded herbs with them years ago. 'They remember old debts,' she wrote. Find them. They'll help you stop the Forge.
Agus pointed to the map, unfolding it. A red line snaked from the valley west, ending at a circle labeled "Bronze Drum Camp." "I met their scouts once, with Lina," Agus murmured, his voice thick with memory. "Proud people. Unyielding. If anyone can stand against the Court's forges, it's them."
Tan Kai traced the red line with his finger. "When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow," Agus said. "We need to rest, stock up on herbs. Bright can gather more mangoes—they'll keep for the trip."
A crash echoed from outside the cave, followed by Bright's yelp. "Guys! I need help! The mango tree's fighting back!"
They ran out to find Bright tangled in thick green vines, his legs flailing. "I tried to climb higher! These vines just… grabbed me!"
Nam knelt down, examining the vines. Her eyes widened. "Lina's trap. She set vine traps around the mango tree—keeps animals away. You triggered it, dummy."
She pulled a small knife from her pouch, slicing the vines. Bright fell to the ground, groaning. "Why'd she have to trap the mango tree? Rude."
Tong grinned, holding out a hand to help him up. "Maybe she knew someone would try to climb it. Someone with no patience."
Bright rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. "Whatever. I still got mangoes. Victory mangoes, plus travel mangoes. We're set."
That afternoon, they prepared. Nam dried lotus leaves and packed her herb pouch. Yara practiced with her fire. Tong and Lila fixed the rock wall. Bright filled a sack with mangoes, muttering about "snack rations."
Tan Kai sat by the lake, reading Lina's diary. More pages—stories of her and Agus, planting the first lotus seeds, hiding the spear, watching him as a baby. His throat felt tight, but it was a good tight—like she was right there with him.
Agus sat down beside him. "She loved you. More than anything."
Tan Kai nodded, closing the book. "I know. Now I get to fight for what she started."
That night, they sat by the lake again, eating mangoes. Bright insisted they'd have "mango feasts" with the Clan. Lila wondered if the Clan had kids her age. Yara hoped they had good firewood.
When the stars came out, Agus stood up, holding the Lotus Spear. "Tomorrow, we go west. But tonight? We enjoy this. The valley, the mangoes, each other."
Everyone nodded. Tan Kai looked at his friends—Bright, covered in mango juice; Lila, laughing; Yara, holding her fire herb like a tiny torch; Nam, rolling her eyes but smiling; Tong, quiet but steady; Agus, looking at him like he was the proudest dad alive.
This was home. Not just the valley. Them.
Bright yawned, standing up. "I'm gonna sleep. Gotta be rested for mango gathering tomorrow. And… y'know, the whole 'saving the world' thing."
One by one, they went to their beds. Tan Kai stayed up a little longer, sitting by the water, the diary in his lap.
The lotuses glowed soft, and the lake rippled. For a second, he swore he felt a hand on his shoulder—warm, gentle, just like Lina's cloth.
He smiled, closing his eyes. "Thanks, Mom."
When he stood up to go to sleep, he tucked the diary and map into his pocket. The token pulsed faintly—slow, steady, but with a new, faint urgency, a quickening beat that spoke of the road ahead.
Tomorrow, they'd head west. Tomorrow, they'd find the Bronze Drum Clan. Tomorrow, the fight would continue.
But tonight? Tonight, they were safe. Tonight, they were home.
And there were still mangoes left.