Memories always come back

Sai stepped closer to the cell, his voice steady. "You are my brother, not a monster. Please… remember. Why do you protect the man who killed our parents?"

Xei's eyes darkened. "I protect him because it's the only way to cleanse my blood… to wash away everything I've done."

Sai frowned. "What have you done? Tell me."

Xei's hands trembled. "I… I have…"

"You don't even know, do you?" Sai pressed.

Xei clenched his jaw. "I know I killed the king's son."

Sai's eyes narrowed. "If you really did that, the king would have killed you."

Xei exhaled sharply. "That's why I protect him. Because he forgave me."

Sai studied him carefully. "Did he tell you that? Or do you just believe it? Are you sure you even killed his son?"

Xei's breathing became unsteady. Flashes of memory surged through his mind—images buried deep, now clawing their way back.

He saw a cell. Cold. Dark.

He saw the king standing over him, a stone in his hand, striking him day after day until the pain erased everything he once knew.

He saw the king training him, shaping him into a weapon, telling him it was for protection.

He saw the king slaughtering his father and mother.

He saw the king whispering in his ear: You are an animal.

Xei's eyes flared red. A surge of energy burst through him, and with one powerful strike, he shattered the cell bars with his bare hands. But as he stepped forward, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees.

Tears streamed down his face. "I killed children of the king… I made kids orphans… I destroyed families… left them homeless…" His voice broke into sobs.

Sai knelt beside him. "What you did… is what a monster does." He placed a hand on Xei's shoulder. "But come with me, and maybe… you can clean your name. And your blood."

Xei shook his head. "I can cleanse my name… but not my blood."

Meanwhile, at the king's chamber, Tai stood before the ruler. "So, 'King'… that's your name?"

The king smirked. "Yes."

Sai scoffed. "You've got an ego."

The king's expression darkened. "Watch your mouth."

Tai chuckled. "Relax, my king."

The king narrowed his eyes. "You have no right to call me that."

Tai crossed his arms. "You're not in a position to say anything. I have over 20,000 soldiers surrounding this building. You can die here if I choose, but I won't… if you do as I say."

The king's smirk returned. "And what is it that you want?"

Tai's voice was firm. "I came for peace. Peace between our lands—our motherland."

The king exhaled. "Done."

Tai blinked, surprised. "That easy?"

"Yes," the king said. "But you must return me to my kingdom."

Tai considered for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. But peace means you cannot declare war on my kingdom for two years."

The king smirked. "Agreed. Bring the contract."

Tai clapped his hands three times. Almost instantly, a high-ranking, elegantly dressed snake slithered into the room, carrying a contract.

The king arched a brow. "Why three times?"

Tai smirked. "If I had clapped any more or any less… the snake would have killed you."

The king chuckled darkly but said nothing as he signed the contract.

Tai lifted the king and soared through the sky, carrying him back to his kingdom. As he landed, he saw Sai, Xei, Shi, and Amal waiting for him.