The morning, morning sunlight filtered through the window. The wind was light, yet there was something different in the air. As the sunlight spilled into the room, Van Thien slowly opened his eyes, but he was immediately met with a very familiar sensation.
Faint, yet distinct. The necklace around his neck was warming up.
"…Again…?"
He gently touched it. A pulse. Slow. But steady.
"Brother Thien…"
Bao Uyen's voice rang out from beside him. She had already woken up at some point and was sitting on the bed, watching him.
"…What are you thinking about that's making your face go completely blank like that?"
"It's nothing."
Bao Uyen sat up from the bed.
"We're going there today, right?"
Van Thien tilted his head slightly.
"…Yeah."
A brief silence.
"…We're going today," he said without hesitation.
Bao Uyen nodded.
"…Then let's go."
A short while later, the two left the house. The electric vehicle rolled forward, navigating the quiet morning roads. The early breeze carried the distinct scent of water. The scent of mud, the scent of the river.
"Go straight down this road…" Bao Uyen pointed ahead. "…and we'll reach the relic site."
Van Thien nodded. The vehicle glided along tree-lined roads, past river dikes, and across fields still drenched in morning dew. In the distance, the Bach Dang River materialized.
Silent. Yet deep.
Driving a bit further, they finally arrived at the Relic Site. Inside, a lush green courtyard surrounded the temple. The grounds were vast, enclosed by ancient walls, ceremonial gates, and rows of old canopy trees providing deep shade. The two of them got off the vehicle and walked inside. As he looked around, he spotted the outdoor stake yard. Right by the riverbank sat the Tran Hung Dao Temple and the Vua Ba Shrine, nestled right against the edge of the Chanh River.
They walked down toward the Tran Hung Dao Temple. Upon entering the courtyard, they were greeted by the statue of Tran Hung Dao, facing forward and pointing his finger straight out toward the Chanh River, his posture immensely majestic.
At that exact moment, Van Thien's necklace flashed with light. Van Thien lowered his head, completely bewildered. When he looked back up, he caught a fleeting glimpse of a silhouette standing behind the statue clad in ancient armor, its gaze piercing out toward the river, before vanishing completely.
He stood there, stunned. Bao Uyen's voice suddenly called out to him, snapping him back to reality.
"What are you thinking about?"
"It's nothing."
"Let's head inside."
"Yes."
The two stepped into the temple. The interior was darker. Thin shafts of sunlight pierced through the roof tiles, casting narrow streaks across the brick floor. Incense smoke drifted slowly. At the far end of the sanctuary stood the statue of Saint Tran. Motionless, yet his eyes seemed to pierce right through them.
Van Thien abruptly halted for a second. The necklace around his neck… was burning hot. It was no longer a faint warmth. It was undeniable.
"…!!"
He subtly clenched his fist. Bao Uyen froze as well.
"…Brother Thien…"
She raised her hand to touch the necklace around her own neck. It too was glowing. The twin streams of cyan and pink light vibrated faintly in the air, as if… calling out to one another.
Deep beneath the riverbed, inside the command module of the battleship, the Red-Eyed Black Dragon stared intently at the screen.
A soldier approached him.
"Report! The final phase of the plan has been completed."
The Red-Eyed Black Dragon locked his gaze onto the display, the crimson hue in his eyes flaring with terrifying intensity.
"Execute."