Chapter 3: Echoes of Shadows

The morning sun poured over the village, casting the trees and rooftops in a soft golden light. Lan Wei was already awake, sitting at the edge of his family's porch, staring down at the crimson shard in his hands. The shard felt warmer today, pulsing faintly beneath his fingers as if it had a heartbeat of its own.

Lan didn't know why, but he had kept the shard with him ever since he found it. It wasn't just curiosity anymore. There was something about the shard, something that felt... familiar. It wasn't logical, and he knew it. He couldn't explain it, but when his fingers brushed against the smooth surface, it was as if a quiet voice deep within him stirred. A strange sense of belonging tugged at him whenever the shard was near, and though he didn't fully understand it, he couldn't bring himself to leave it behind.

The day passed quickly, and by the time Lan Wei returned to the village, the sky had turned a deep shade of orange. His mother greeted him at the door, her face lined with worry but softened by the sight of him.

"You found the herbs," she said, her voice filled with relief. "Thank you, Lan Wei."

He nodded, handing the basket to her. "How's Father?"

"Resting," she replied quietly. "He's been asking for you."

Lan Wei moved quickly to his father's side. The room felt heavier than it had that morning, and his father's breaths were shallow, each one labored. Lan knelt beside the bed, pulling the crimson shard from his satchel as he did so, intending to set it aside. But as soon as his father's eyes landed on the shard, everything changed.

His father froze, his face draining of all color. His eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the shard as if it were something unreal, something he had never thought he'd see. His breathing quickened, his hand reaching out instinctively, fingers trembling.

"No..." His voice was barely a whisper, filled with shock. "No... how...?"

Lan Wei blinked, taken aback by his father's reaction. "Father? What's wrong?"

His father's gaze never left the shard. For a long, agonizing moment, he simply stared, his body rigid with shock. And then, slowly, his expression began to change—disbelief giving way to something deeper, something darker. Regret.

His father let out a strained, bitter laugh, one that sounded more like a sob. His eyes gleamed with pain as he finally turned his gaze toward Lan Wei, his voice trembling with sorrow. "It's too late... Fate, you cruel, heartless thing... you've stolen everything from us, haven't you? Even this... even this moment."

Lan Wei felt a chill crawl down his spine. His father had never spoken like this before—so broken, so defeated. "What are you talking about? Father, what's going on?"

For a moment, his father didn't respond. He simply stared at the shard, his hand still outstretched as if to touch it but never quite making contact. Then, with another bitter laugh, he looked up at the ceiling, his voice rising in mockery.

"Oh, how the heavens mock us! My ancestors, my forefathers—they guarded this cursed thing, hoping to unlock its power. And for what? For this? For the ruin of our family and the destruction of our peace?" He laughed again, louder this time, but it was a hollow sound.

Lan Wei's heart pounded in his chest. "What do you mean, Father? Why is this shard so important?"

His father's laughter faded, and he slumped back against the bed, his strength seemingly drained from him. He took a deep breath, his gaze settling on Lan Wei with a mixture of sadness and resignation.

"The shard... that shard..." he began, his voice low, hoarse. "Our family has protected it for generations. It's said to hold unimaginable power—power that could turn the heavens upside down. But no one... no one has ever been able to unlock its secrets."

Lan Wei's eyes widened. "Power? But... how?"

His father shook his head weakly. "We don't know. We've tried. Our ancestors tried. Everyone sought to understand it, to wield its power, but no one could. Still, they guarded it. They guarded it with their lives because the scriptures and the teachings of our forefathers warned of what would happen if it fell into the wrong hands."

Lan Wei stared at the shard in his hands, its faint red glow casting an eerie light over the room. He could feel its weight more now, not just physically but in his mind. "But why... why now? Why is this happening?"

His father sighed, his eyes closing for a moment as if the weight of the truth had finally settled on him. "I didn't want this for you, Lan Wei. I wanted you to live a simple life... to be free from the burden of our family's legacy. But the moment you found that shard... everything changed. Fate is cruel, and it seems it won't let us go so easily."

Lan Wei felt his throat tighten, his mind reeling. He had thought the shard was just an odd relic, something of interest but nothing more. But to hear his father speak of it like this—like it was both a blessing and a curse—made his skin crawl.

"So... what happens now?" Lan Wei asked quietly, his voice barely audible.

His father opened his eyes, and for the first time, Lan Wei saw tears gathering at the corners of his father's eyes. "I don't know, son. All I know is that the shard has chosen you. And whether you like it or not... you will have to carry this burden."