The White Lion Clan

Jin's eyes snapped open, his body shuddering as the remnants of madness still lingered at the edges of his mind. He was no longer in the mountains, nor in the village where his world had shattered. The peaceful sounds of a waterfall filled the air, a stark contrast to the chaos that had consumed him. His body ached from exhaustion, his mind foggy. Yet, the memories of his family's blood-stained bodies remained vivid—etched in his mind like a scar that would never heal.

As Jin tried to sit up, the world around him blurred, and his body betrayed him, too weak to support him. His hands trembled. The air was strange—fresh, almost unnatural. The scent of earth and water surrounded him, but it only deepened his confusion. His thoughts were clouded, and he couldn't make sense of anything. His body, though weary, pulsed with rage—a fury not his own, but something deeper. The madness that had overtaken him before surged beneath his skin, pushing against his mind.

Then, the sound of hooves reached his ears—slow and steady. A distant rumble, as though the earth itself trembled in response. His senses sharpened, and his pulse quickened. Panic shot through him. Was it more of them? More people who had destroyed his life? His heart pounded in his chest.

A group of riders emerged from the trees, their horses gleaming white in the sunlight. The men wore armor of pure white, with golden lion heads emblazoned across their chests. Each was armed with swords, spears, and bows—clearly warriors of high rank.

At the head of the group was a chariot pulled by majestic horses. It came to a slow stop beside Jin, and two figures disembarked. One was a young girl, no older than twelve, her face lit with a curious joy. She wore a blue dress that fluttered in the wind as she ran toward the waterfall, her laughter echoing through the air. The other was a woman, slightly older, appearing around eighteen, wearing pristine white armor. Her demeanor was calm, her eyes sharp, and she surveyed the surroundings with a quiet intensity. She was the leader of the group.

Iris, the younger girl, reached the waterfall with excitement, but then her eyes fell upon Jin. Her joyous expression faltered, and horror replaced it. She let out a shrill scream that shattered the peaceful atmosphere. The soldiers, ever alert, immediately reached for their weapons, their eyes scanning for danger.

"My lady, what's wrong?" one of them shouted, rushing to her side.

Eleanor pointed to Jin, her voice quivering. "There's a boy! He's… hurt. Please, help him!"

One of the soldiers hesitated, eyeing Jin suspiciously. "But my lady, we don't know who he is. He might be a threat."

The leader of the group, Aria, stepped forward, her sharp gaze locking onto the soldier. "We are not here to harm him. His life is in danger, and we will not leave him," she commanded firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument. Her piercing eyes flicked a glance at Jin—a cold, threatening look that seemed to warn him to stay in his place.

The soldiers reluctantly obeyed, moving quickly to Jin's side. One of them checked for a pulse, nodding in approval. "He's alive, but barely."

Iris crouched beside Jin, her fingers hovering over his forehead. "Who is he? What happened to him?" she whispered, as if speaking to herself. She turned to Aria with pleading eyes. "Please, give him some healing pellets. He's suffering."

Aria hesitated but nodded, reaching into a pouch on her armor. She handed a small red pellet to one of the soldiers, who carefully fed it to Jin. Within moments, his ragged breathing eased, and some color returned to his pale face.

Jin's body felt like it was being lifted, but his limbs refused to obey. He lost consciousness again, slipping into a dark void.

---

When he woke, Jin found himself inside a chariot. He was lying on a soft cushion, the faint smell of herbs filling the air. The gentle hum of horses' hooves on the earth was the only sound, yet it did nothing to soothe the rage that still burned inside him. He tried to sit up, but his body felt like lead. His memories were scattered—he remembered the village, his family, the blood—but everything was a blur.

Iris was beside him, her gaze full of concern. She was seated on the edge of the chariot, her eyes never leaving him. "You're awake!" she exclaimed, relief flooding her voice. Her gaze softened as she looked at him, her expression showing a kindness that seemed genuine. But the moment she spoke, the soldiers around them tensed.

Aria gave Jin a sharp look, her eyes narrowing in a clear warning. "Be careful, Iris," she said, her voice cold and commanding. "We don't know who he is or what he's capable of. We must proceed with caution."

Iris hesitated but nodded. "I understand," she replied, her tone soft. However, her gaze didn't leave Jin's. "You're safe now," she told him, her voice soothing yet tinged with a maturity that made her seem far older than her years.

Jin blinked at her, his throat dry. "Where… where am I? What happened?" His voice sounded alien, distant.

"You're safe now," Iris said gently. "We're taking you to our clan. You've been unconscious for three days."

The word clan echoed in Jin's mind. He had no idea where he was, but the weight of it pressed against his chest. He looked down at his hands, expecting them to be covered in blood—but they were clean. Too clean.

Aria's sharp voice cut through his thoughts. "You don't remember anything, do you?" she asked, her tone soft yet knowing.

Jin shook his head slowly. "No. I… I remember my name. Jin. And I remember… the madness. The destruction."

Iris's eyes softened as she reached out to touch his hand. "You don't need to worry about anything right now," she said gently. "We're here to help."

But Jin wasn't sure he believed her. The soldiers' wary glances spoke volumes, and even Aria's kindness felt laced with caution. He didn't trust them, but he had no strength to resist.

The chariot eventually arrived at a grand fortress. The White Lion Clan's stronghold loomed before them, its towering walls radiating power and history. Soldiers in white armor stood guard at the entrance, their presence commanding respect.

Aria dismounted and offered Jin a hand. "Welcome to the White Lion Clan, Jin," she said, her voice calm but filled with authority. "We'll help you recover. But the path ahead will be difficult."

Jin stared at the fortress, his unease growing. He didn't know what awaited him within these walls, but one thing was certain: his quest for answers had only just begun.