She had been here once before, long ago. But now, she had no time for nostalgia.
She clutched the jade token beneath her robes.
She had to find the one who could help her son.
It didn't take long for her to realize something was wrong.
As she moved through the streets, she felt it—an unnatural stillness, an undercurrent of tension in the air. People spoke in hushed whispers, their eyes darting toward the towering palace in the distance.
Something had happened.
She stopped at a small tea shop, listening carefully to the murmurs of the customers.
"Another one's disappeared."
"A third this month. And all of them were young boys."
"Do you think it's the Demonic Cult?"
"Shh! Don't speak of them so openly!"
Her fingers tightened around her son.
Young boys were disappearing?
Her instincts screamed at her. Whatever was happening in this city, it wasn't safe.
She had to be careful.
She couldn't afford to draw attention.
She found an inn in the quieter part of the city, paying with what little coin she had left. The room was small, barely more than a corner with a thin mat, but it would do.
She sat down, her son resting in her lap.
Reaching into her robes, she pulled out the jade token the physician had given her.
She turned it over in her fingers, studying the intricate carvings. It was an old design, but the meaning was clear—this was a mark of the Heavenly Pavilion, one of the most mysterious sects in the empire.
But why would someone from the Heavenly Pavilion know about her son?
And more importantly—would they be willing to help?
She had no choice but to find out.
She tucked the token away, glancing down at the child in her arms.
For five years, he had remained silent. Eyes closed, untouched by the world. But deep within, something was stirring.
And when he finally awoke—
The world would never be the same.