The door exploded inward.
Wood splintered across the room.
Musha ducked instinctively.
A blade sliced through the space where her head had been a heartbeat earlier.
She rolled across the floor and came up on one knee.
Five heartbeats.
No—
Six.
They were inside.
The smell of smoke and iron filled the room.
Hana stepped forward, sword drawn.
"Musha, behind me."
Musha gripped her staff.
"No."
A man in a crimson cloak stepped through the broken doorway.
His face was hidden behind a black mask.
Two swords hung from his waist.
Behind him stood five warriors dressed in dark red armor.
The Crimson Shadows.
The masked man tilted his head.
"So it's true."
His voice was calm.
"The girl survived."
Hana raised her sword.
"Leave."
The man laughed softly.
"We've searched eight years for her."
Musha's heart tightened.
Eight years.
The same number.
"Who are you?" she asked.
The masked warrior looked toward her.
"I am the one sent to bring you back."
"Where?"
"The capital."
"Why?"
"That isn't for you to know."
Musha tightened her grip.
"I think I've heard that enough."
The warrior's eyes narrowed behind his mask.
"You have your mother's temper."
Musha froze.
"You knew my mother?"
The warrior didn't answer.
Hana attacked.
Steel flashed.
The masked warrior blocked.
CLANG!
The impact shook the room.
Hana spun and struck again.
The warrior parried.
Another strike.
Another.
Musha listened.
The rhythm was different from Hana's usual movements.
Faster.
Heavier.
More controlled.
Hana was struggling.
"Musha!" Hana shouted.
Musha moved.
A soldier rushed toward her.
She heard his foot scrape against the floor.
Three steps.
Two.
One.
Musha ducked.
The sword passed over her head.
She struck the soldier's wrist with her staff.
He grunted.
She swept his legs.
He crashed to the floor.
Another warrior attacked from behind.
Musha heard the wind move.
She twisted.
The blade narrowly missed her shoulder.
Musha struck his chest.
He staggered backward.
She heard his heartbeat accelerate.
Fear.
Musha smiled faintly.
She could hear them.
All of them.
Their footsteps.
Their breathing.
Their swords.
Their fear.
She didn't need sight.
The world was speaking to her.
And she was finally learning how to listen.
A third warrior charged.
Musha stepped sideways.
His sword struck the wooden floor.
She kicked his knee.
He fell.
She grabbed his wrist and twisted.
The sword dropped.
Hana looked over.
"Musha!"
"I'm fine!"
The masked warrior suddenly appeared beside her.
Too fast.
Musha barely heard him.
His sword struck.
She raised her staff.
CRACK!
The staff split.
Musha stumbled backward.
The warrior stopped.
For the first time, he seemed surprised.
"You blocked that?"
Musha threw the broken half of her staff aside.
"I heard you."
"You heard me?"
"Your breathing."
The warrior stared.
Then he smiled.
"Interesting."
He drew his second sword.
Hana's expression changed.
"Musha, run!"
"No."
"RUN!"
The masked warrior disappeared.
Musha felt the air change.
Left.
No.
Right.
Above.
She raised both hands.
CLANG!
His blade stopped inches from her face.
Musha caught his wrist.
For one second, they stood frozen.
Then he whispered:
"White Shadow."
Musha's blood ran cold.
"What did you call me?"
The warrior pulled away.
"Now I know."
He stepped backward.
"You really are her daughter."
Musha's voice shook.
"Tell me about my mother."
"No."
"Tell me!"
Musha lunged.
The warrior blocked.
She attacked again.
He moved around her effortlessly.
Strike.
Block.
Strike.
Block.
Musha's breathing became heavier.
She couldn't keep up.
The warrior kicked her backward.
She crashed into the wall.
"Musha!"
Hana rushed toward her.
The warrior intercepted.
Their swords collided.
Hana was pushed backward.
"You can't protect her forever," the warrior said.
Hana's voice was cold.
"I don't need forever."
She attacked with everything she had.
The masked warrior blocked.
But this time—
Hana's blade cut across his shoulder.
Blood spilled.
The warrior stepped back.
The room went silent.
One of the Crimson Shadows whispered:
"He's bleeding."
The masked warrior touched the wound.
Then looked at the blood on his fingers.
His expression darkened.
"Enough."
He raised his hand.
The soldiers immediately stopped.
Hana stared.
"Why?"
The warrior looked at Musha.
"Because I've seen what I came to confirm."
Musha slowly stood.
"What?"
The warrior pointed at her.
"The White Shadow has awakened."
A strange warmth spread through Musha's chest.
Her heart began beating faster.
"What does that mean?"
"It means the kingdom is already in danger."
Musha frowned.
"Because of me?"
The warrior didn't answer.
Hana stepped forward.
"Who sent you?"
The warrior looked at her.
"Lord Katsurane."
Musha's face hardened.
"The man from the letter."
The warrior nodded.
"He wants her alive."
Hana raised her sword.
"He won't have her."
The warrior smiled.
"Then you should prepare yourself."
He turned toward the doorway.
Musha shouted:
"Wait!"
The warrior stopped.
"You knew my mother."
Silence.
"Did she die the night I was born?"
The warrior's shoulders stiffened.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then he answered:
"That depends on what you believe."
Musha's heart raced.
"What does that mean?"
But the warrior was already walking away.
"Tell Katsurane I'm not going anywhere," Musha said.
The warrior stopped.
Then laughed.
"You don't understand."
He looked over his shoulder.
"Katsurane isn't coming for you."
Musha waited.
"He already knows where you are."
The warriors disappeared into the forest.
Silence returned to the house.
Musha turned toward Hana.
"What did he mean?"
Hana didn't answer.
"Grandma."
Still nothing.
"Why does everyone know something about me except me?"
Hana lowered her sword.
"Because I wanted you to have a childhood."
Musha's voice cracked.
"I don't want a childhood anymore."
Hana looked at her.
"I want the truth."
Before Hana could respond—
A distant horn sounded.
Once.
Then twice.
Then three times.
Hana's expression changed.
"What is that?"
Musha asked.
Hana looked toward the mountains.
"The Crimson Shadows are retreating."
"Why?"
Hana didn't answer.
Musha listened.
The sound of horses approached from far away.
Dozens.
Maybe hundreds.
Hana whispered:
"They weren't the real attack."
Musha's stomach tightened.
"What?"
Hana looked toward the village.
"They were testing you."
A chill ran down Musha's spine.
The masked warrior's words returned to her.
The White Shadow has awakened.
Musha looked at her hands.
Nothing happened.
Then—
A faint glow appeared beneath her skin.
White.
Soft.
Alive.
Musha stared despite the darkness.
She couldn't see it.
But she could feel it.
Something was moving through her veins.
Hana stepped backward.
"Musha…"
"What?"
"Don't move."
Musha froze.
The glow intensified.
White energy curled around her fingers.
It traveled up her arms.
Around her shoulders.
Across her chest.
The room filled with a soft humming sound.
Musha's breathing slowed.
She felt stronger.
Clearer.
Every sound became sharper.
She could hear Hana's heartbeat.
The fire.
The wind.
The distant horses.
Even the insects beneath the floorboards.
Then something else.
A heartbeat beneath the mountain.
Thump.
Musha's head snapped toward it.
Thump.
Her white energy flared.
And somewhere deep beneath the earth—
The dragon opened its eyes again.
Musha heard its voice.
Not through her ears.
Inside her mind.
"You remember."
Musha whispered:
"I don't."
The voice answered:
"You will."
The white energy suddenly exploded from her body.
Hana shielded her face.
The windows shattered.
Outside, the entire village trembled.
Musha stood at the center of the storm.
For a moment—
The white light became almost blinding.
Then it vanished.
Musha collapsed.
Hana caught her.
"Musha!"
The girl opened her eyes beneath the blindfold.
Her breathing was weak.
But she was conscious.
Hana held her tightly.
"You're safe."
Musha whispered:
"No."
Hana looked at her.
Musha turned toward the mountain.
Her voice was barely audible.
"They're coming."
"Who?"
Musha swallowed.
"The people who killed the others."
Hana's face went pale.
And far away, on the highest ridge overlooking the village, a lone figure watched the smoke rising from Hana's house.
A crimson cloak moved in the wind.
The masked warrior removed his mask.
He looked toward the mountain.
Then toward the village.
And whispered:
"She's awake."
Behind him, a second figure approached.
"Should we report to Lord Katsurane?"
The warrior nodded.
"Yes."
"And what should we tell him?"
The warrior looked back at the village.
His expression was grim.
"Tell him the White Shadow has awakened."
He paused.
"And tell him…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…she's stronger than the legends said."
Far beneath the mountain, the dragon smiled.