The morning arrived shrouded in mist, the palace grounds hushed beneath the weight of unspoken farewells. Way'Lee stood at the gates, her traveling cloak fastened at her throat, the fabric woven with protective charms that shimmered faintly in the dawn light. Wang Jo adjusted the straps of his pack beside her, his sword secured at his side, his expression unreadable.
Lady Mei stood before them, her gaze unreadable. "The Northern Peaks are not a place for mortals," she warned. "The path twists between realms, and those who enter do not always return."
Way'Lee tightened her grip on the hilt of her dagger. "Then we will walk carefully."
Lady Mei studied her for a long moment, then stepped closer, pressing a small jade talisman into her palm. "This will guide you when the mist thickens. Do not lose it."
Way'Lee closed her fingers around it, the stone cool against her skin. "Thank you."
Lady Mei's voice softened. "You seek answers, my queen. But beware—what you find may demand more of you than you are willing to give."
Way'Lee met her gaze. "Then let the White Fox ask. I will decide the cost."
With that, she turned, stepping beyond the palace gates.
Wang Jo fell into step beside her. Neither looked back.
They traveled north for days, the roads winding through dense forests where the trees whispered with unseen voices. The further they went, the thinner the veil between worlds became. The nights stretched longer, the stars burning brighter, and strange lights flickered between the trees like watching eyes.
On the seventh night, the path ended.
Before them rose the Northern Peaks, jagged and white as bone, their slopes lost in swirling mist. No roads led further—only a sheer, windswept incline vanishing into clouds.
Way'Lee tightened her cloak. "This is where the stories begin."
Wang Jo's hand hovered over his sword. "And where most end."
A distant cry echoed through the peaks—not an animal, not human. Something old, something waiting.
Way'Lee exhaled. "Then let's see if we are worthy of hearing its voice."
She stepped forward, and the mist swallowed her whole.
The world beyond the veil was not made for mortals.
Shadows shifted at the edge of her vision, their forms neither solid nor spirit. The ground beneath her feet was not earth but something softer, something alive. The air hummed with magic older than time, pressing against her skin like unseen hands.
Wang Jo appeared beside her, his form flickering as though the mist struggled to hold onto him. "Are you sure this is the way?"
Way'Lee lifted the jade talisman. It pulsed faintly, tugging her forward. "We follow."
With each step, the mist thickened until the world disappeared entirely. Only the glow of the talisman guided them, its faint light cutting through the darkness.
Then—
A voice, soft as snowfall. You seek what you do not understand.
Way'Lee froze. The mist parted before her, revealing a figure seated atop a great stone.
She was unlike anything Way'Lee had ever seen. Nine tails curled around her, their fur like spun silver, shifting between form and shadow. Her hair cascaded in pale waves, her eyes an endless, glacial blue. The White Fox of the Northern Peaks watched them, her expression unreadable.
"You have come far," she murmured. "But distance does not grant answers."
Way'Lee straightened, gripping the talisman. "I came to ask for wisdom."
The White Fox tilted her head. "And if wisdom demands sacrifice?"
Way'Lee did not hesitate. "Then I will meet its price."
The White Fox smiled. It was not a kind smile. "Then let us see what you are willing to lose."
The mist surged, swallowing them whole.
And the test began.