The River Sitt Town—the longest in the Bagan Nation—is the country's treasure. It flows through every division, serving as the heart of transportation. Yet along its serene path lies the Magal Forest, a place whispered to be dangerous for reasons no one fully dares explain.
We stepped onto the damp soil of the Magal Forest, holding onto a single hope: to retrieve the Sword of the Bagan.
And there he was—the key to saving Steel Blade.
"Big brother Lua...!" Poositt screamed, waving frantically at the figure ahead.
Steel Lualing. According to Poositt, he was kind, well-behaved, and everything a brother should be. He wore a black sleeveless shirt and rugged ranger trousers, sweat gleaming on his skin as he chopped wood beside an enormous pile of neatly tied logs.
I scanned the area. The trees were densely packed, planted so tightly together that one could barely pass between them. The air was heavy—like it knew something we didn't.
I whispered to myself, "I hope nothing goes wrong..."
BOOM.
A deafening crack shattered the silence.
Lightning struck a tree just meters from Lualing. He dropped to his knees, covering his ears. Fire burst from the impact point, leaping from branch to branch—ravenous and wild. In seconds, flames and smoke swallowed Lualing's silhouette.
"No! Brother! Lua!! Come to me!" Poositt screamed, her voice raw and trembling. Tears streamed down her face, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
Azalea grabbed her from the waist, holding her back from running into the blaze. Her expression was unreadable—worry, yes, but for whom? For Lualing? For his sister? Or maybe... because Blade needed his blood?
I couldn't tell. Not from her face alone.
I scanned the surroundings for a way out. Behind the work site—there! A small bridge, half-hidden by trees. But a massive pile of logs blocked the path. If I could just cut the rope binding them, the logs might scatter and clear the way.
I turned to Azalea. "Do you still have your dagger?"
She nodded silently.
"Let me borrow it. I'll go around and cut the ropes. He might be able to escape."
Her eyes widened, stunned. I could see her weighing the choice—if Lualing died, Blade would die too. But if I went, there was no guarantee I'd make it back alive.
After a long pause, she pulled the dagger from her belt and pressed it into my hand. "You realize that lightning... it's the same kind as the one from the hospital? If you don't make it back... I'll meet you at the Temple. Take care, child."
Child? I didn't like the word. But there was no time to argue. I nodded, gripped the dagger, and sprinted into the smoke.
The heat hit me like a wall. I ran alongside the fire, flames licking dangerously close, until I reached the back of the pile. The logs were already ablaze—but the rope binding them... was untouched.
What are the odds...
I began slicing. The rope was thick, and my hands—already blistered from the heat—burned with every motion. Still, I cut. Again. And again.
Finally, the first rope snapped.
The pile lost its balance.
The logs fell.
Right toward me.
One struck me mid-chest, flinging me through the air like a rag doll. I hit the sky—then plummeted, barely managing to grab onto the bridge's edge.
My hands, scorched and trembling, began to slip. I looked up and saw Lualing, crawling out of the fire—through the path I'd cleared.
Our eyes met.
His were wide with shock. He shouted something—I couldn't hear.
My fingers gave out.
Falling into the River Sitt Town sounded peaceful, even poetic.
But unfortunately for fate...
I can swim.