In the room, where the Valirion is in, Myke wakes up on the bed. Blurry visions soon to be clearer. A brightest light above him as if he's in heaven. "LYO!!" Hennah suddenly appear on his face.
"Morning," Myke said.
"How's your body?" Ming asked.
"Good." he said. Then he continue. "Why am I in the hospital,"
"Ask your gremlin,"
Myke stares at Hennah as she's sits like a child. "I thought you're about to die. You didn't respond to us,"
"I'm just tired." Soon, as he look at his own teams and saw Ying next to him, he leaned towards her shoulder.
"Eh?!" Ying suprised.
Ming smile softly. "He's just worry about you, Ying,"
Ying soon look at him, he didn't let go. She soon try to caressing his head, and he gets closer. "Hey hey, Myke..." she muttered.
"Relax, Ying. He used to be like that to someone he love the most,"
"You mean...Mya?"
"Yeah. Mya Solna,"
As Ying understood, she lean her head on his while caressing.
"Jug? Do you bring your napkin?" Hennah ask as her eyes is about to get teary.
"Cooking napkins?" he said as she also felt it too.
"Napkin is a napkin," she said as she took it from him and blow her nose out and give it to him.
"You...imbecile rat," he said as he also wanna cry.
"Welcome...to...Valirion...Yingli...F. Hesky..." Myke cracks.
As days passed, Valirion found peace in a quiet hospital room, lounging around with snacks and trading jokes.
“Oi, Juggy Boy! Wanna bet?” Hennah’s grin promised chaos.
“No… no bank heists or anything insane,” Jug warned.
“Nah, just tell me—what’s the first thing you hate most?”
“Rats, of course. And flying,” Jug answered without thinking.
Hennah’s grin turned devious. “Think the nurses hate mice too?”
It took Jug a moment—then realization dawned. “Oh no. You utter—”
“Relax, just for a minute,” she teased.
She cracked the door open, whispered a chant:
“Tititi... tilititi ghi shi... tan~”
And suddenly—an explosion of squeaks.
A river of rats flooded the pristine halls. Nurses shrieked. Doctors bolted. Somewhere, a doctor fainted clean to the floor.
Jug couldn’t help but laugh. “Look! That doctor literally passed out!”
Then—SMACK! Ming’s hand cracked against both their heads. Her voice, cold as ice:
"They’re dying, you knuckleheads.”
“Nah, just for a minute…” Hennah mumbled.
“Hennah…” Myke’s low voice broke through the noise.
“Oh, you know… uhmm… break out?” she offered sheepishly.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
“What?”
Ying, half-asleep on a chair, mumbled: “Break… wha—”
“Hehehe… ehem—” Hennah readied another spell—
But suddenly, a huge hand covered her mouth. “BARBARIAN!!” she squealed.
Gholsha Holfen appeared in the doorway, a single rat perched on his head like a crown. “You really haven’t changed, huh?” he chuckled, pulling her into a side-hug.
“Hey, Ghol.” Myke smiled, warmth breaking his stoic face. “Was expecting you.”
“You always do,” Gholsha replied. “Anyway—just a quick visit: Valirion, you’re granted a two-day holiday. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
“TWO DAYS ONLY?!” Hennah squawked. “WHY NOT A MONTH?!”
“Don’t ask, sis. That’s from the Concord.”
He handed Myke a letter, sealed in black wax.
Myke opened it and read silently:
Valirion
Claim thy days of peace as of the Telkha will rearrange thy next match.
And the defeat of thyselfs of blood, we, Telkha, have diminished their rights to join any fight, except Hosh.
Amen
Myke folded the letter slowly. “Amen…” he murmured.
As the day began to dusk, the streets of Tala glowed under the fading light. Ming wandered quietly, her steps slow and thoughtful, watching children run and chase each other through narrow alleys, their laughter carrying on the warm air.
Then, as though the world itself had paused, she saw her.
A figure taller than Ming by half again, draped in an ethereal, flowing white gown layered with soft veils. A black spiked halo crowned her head, ancient and silent. A sheer black veil crossed her eyes, threaded faintly with red, hiding them from sight.
They stopped, staring at each other in perfect stillness.
“Idiot,” they both said at the same time.
Ming stepped closer, resting her head gently against Vehra’s gloved hand, a small gesture that carried the weight of years.
“Hysha, Vehra?” Ming murmured.
“Bitter,” Vehra replied calmly.
“Location?” Ming asked.
“Yours.”
“Acceptable.”
And in that moment, dusk wrapped around them like a soft cloak — and all the distance, years, and silence seemed to vanish, leaving only two souls who understood each other without needing another word.
As Myke was finally discharged, Valirion made their way back to the tavern. But when they stepped inside, they stopped dead: Ming sat quietly at a table… with someone else.
Tall — impossibly tall, even beside Ming. Draped in flowing white veils and a black spiked halo, a presence that seemed to still the entire tavern.
Instantly, Hennah, Jug, and Myke drew their weapons. Ying stood frozen, unsure what to do.
“What do you want?” Myke demanded, voice calm but edged with warning. “What are you doing here with Ming?!”
“MING! ARE YOU OKAY?!” Hennah shouted.
“Idiots,” said Ming.
“Idiots,” echoed the tall woman at the same time.
The perfect synchrony left Valirion speechless for a moment.
“This is Vehra F. Jifuwara,” Ming explained evenly. “She’s my sister. And… this is my team, Valirion.”
Vehra rose gracefully. The entire tavern seemed to shrink under her towering presence. Some patrons froze in awe; others flinched as though staring at something holy — or terrifying.
She bowed gently, hands folded before her.
“I’m her oldest sister,” she said softly, her voice calm as drifting cinders. “It’s an honor to meet you, Valirion.”
“She even talks like Ming!” Hennah blurted.
“And taller than Ming…” Ying whispered in awe.
“And her eyes—”
Before Jug could finish, Ming wordlessly raised her rifle toward him.
“OKAY, OKAY! I WON’T SAY IT! I KNOW IT’S PERSONAL!” he yelped, throwing his hands up.
Ming lowered the weapon, exhaling.
Vehra reached over, gently patting Ming’s shoulder. Then, without a word, she lifted her veil.
Her eyes glowed with the same elegant, golden hue as Ming’s — but veined with faint red scars, the mark of something ancient and painful.
“I may not see as you do,” Vehra said softly, turning her blind gaze toward them, “but I know you’re all here.”
“Really? Let’s see if you can prove it,” Hennah grinned, slipping silently behind Vehra and slowly reaching out to pickpocket the golden pin from her sash.
Before Hennah’s fingers even brushed it, Vehra caught her wrist in a single, effortless motion.
“Woah…” Hennah blinked. Vehra simply chuckled, letting go.
“She’s not normal, Jug,” Hennah muttered.
“Really?! Then watch this!” Jug roared, lowering his stance. He lunged forward with a tank-like charge, aiming to grab her.
Vehra didn’t flinch. She calmly lifted a knee — the strike met Jug’s chest mid-charge. He stopped cold, air blasted from his lungs, and stumbled back.
“O-open your veil, tall girl!!” Hennah howled, half-laughing.
“GRAB HER ARMS!” Jug wheezed.
“I AM TRYING!” Hennah snapped.
While they scrambled, Ming stepped over to Myke and Ying.
“Friendly match,” she said quietly.
“When?” Myke asked.
“Two days from now.”
“Concord’s permission?”
“She is Concord,” Ming replied.
“Vehra… Vehra Jifuwara… Wait,” Ying stammered, her eyes widening. “She’s from Cinder’s Petals, isn’t she?”
Ming nodded once. “Yes. And she’ll be your examiner.”
Ying swallowed, glancing at the towering figure whose calm stillness felt as heavy as stone.
“Uh… okay,” she managed, her voice trembling with both fear and awe.