The road to Star City stretched long and wide, winding between deep green forests, sun-dappled hills, and quiet streams that glistened like silver threads. The cart creaked gently as it rolled over dirt paths, pulled by a strong, patient beast. Overhead, clouds floated lazily as the sun made its slow descent toward the horizon. The day had passed peacefully, filled with shared stories, cheerful songs, and the soft breathing of naps taken beneath the warm sun.
As the sky began to darken, painting itself in hues of orange and purple, Lan Hua slowed the cart and scanned the surroundings.
"We'll camp here tonight," he said firmly. "It's too risky to travel after dark. Magical beasts become more active once the sun goes down, and we shouldn't take that chance."
They found a small clearing near a quiet grove of pine trees. The ground was soft with moss and fallen needles, and the scent of fresh pine filled the air. Lan Hua guided the cart beast to a sturdy tree and tied it securely, then helped unload supplies. Soon, a small campfire was crackling in the middle of their camp, its light dancing on the surrounding leaves.
Lan Xin handed out a simple meal—warm rice packed in banana leaves, dried vegetables, and pork buns left from Shi Feng's parting gift. They all ate gratefully, the warmth of the food filling their stomachs as the chill of night began to settle.
After dinner, Zhen, as he often did, picked up his training hammer and began swinging it gently against a thick tree stump nearby. The rhythmic thump-thump of metal against wood echoed through the night. It was comforting, familiar. Lan Hua watched him for a while before speaking.
"Zhen," he called, "come here for a moment."
Zhen lowered the hammer and trotted over. "Yes, Dad?"
Lan Hua patted a log beside him. "Sit. Let me show you something."
He picked up a small stick and began drawing simple patterns in the dirt. "When you strike as a blacksmith, you're not just hitting metal. You're guiding it. Let your hammer move with you—like dancing with the flame and steel. Don't force it. Feel it. Understand it. Respect it."
Zhen nodded slowly, eyes fixed on his father's hand.
Then, Lan Hua picked up Zhen's old hammer. He turned it slowly, examining the wear along the handle and the cracks forming near the head.
"This hammer," he said softly, "it won't last much longer."
Zhen blinked in surprise. "Is it because I hit too hard?"
Lan Hua chuckled warmly. "No, no, nothing like that. You hit just fine. The real reason is that this hammer is old—very old. It was never made to last this long, especially not for training. It's done its job well, but it doesn't have much life left."
Zhen looked down at the tool he'd practiced with for so long, a flicker of sadness in his eyes.
Lan Hua placed a comforting hand on his son's shoulder. "Listen closely, Zhen. Bond Masters don't choose their tools. The tools choose them. And when the time is right, your true hammer will come to you—one that's meant for your hands alone."
Lan Xin, sitting nearby, joined in with a gentle smile. "And only very rare blacksmith masters can awaken the true strength of their hammer. Your father's hammer, for example, was made of a rare, nearly unbreakable metal. It was forged by your grandfather himself."
Zhen and Na'er gasped together. "Whoa! Really?!"
Zhen had always admired his father's hammer—it looked ancient yet powerful, heavy yet graceful. Now he understood why. It wasn't just a tool. It was a legacy.
After more stories around the fire and some laughter, the family slowly tucked themselves into blankets inside their small tent. The fire outside continued to crackle gently, guarding them from the cold and the dark. Crickets chirped, and the wind rustled through the trees.
That night, Zhen had a strange and vivid dream.
In the dream, he felt very small—like a newborn baby. He floated in darkness, warm and weightless. Then, he saw it. Two enormous dragons stood before him. One glowed with brilliant golden light, radiating warmth like the sun. The other shimmered with deep, velvety darkness, peaceful yet powerful. Both dragons roared in fury, their wings shaking the sky as they battled against a terrifying army.
Swords clashed, magic lit the skies, and the air was filled with fire and thunder. Zhen couldn't move, only watch in awe and fear. Then, the two dragons looked toward him at the same time. Their eyes were soft, full of love. A voice echoed, deep and ancient, coming from both dragons at once:
"Live well, our precious son."
Zhen's eyes snapped open. He sat up with a loud gasp, sweat on his forehead and tears streaming down his cheeks.
Lan Xin and Lan Hua were awake in an instant. "Zhen? What happened?"
Zhen trembled. "I... I had a dream. There were two dragons. One was light... the other was dark. They were fighting. And... they said something to me."
"What did they say?" Lan Hua asked, his voice calm but alert.
Zhen wiped his tears. "I think they said... 'Live well, our precious son.'"
Lan Hua exchanged a long glance with Lan Xin. "Light and dark dragons," he murmured. "That's very rare. I've only ever heard about them in old legends. If it's real... then Zhen's bond could be something truly special."
Lan Xin hugged Zhen tightly. "Dreams show us things we don't understand yet, Zhen. But one day, the meaning will come to you."
Zhen leaned into his mother, his small body still shaking. But slowly, sleep found him again, and the family rested once more.
The next morning, the golden sun rose over the forest, casting long beams of light through the trees. Birds chirped cheerfully, and the world seemed new again. The fire was extinguished, the cart repacked, and the journey resumed.
As they rolled over a tall hill, the trees parted to reveal a grand view ahead—walls of gleaming white stone, towers that reached the clouds, and banners flapping in the breeze.
Star City.
Zhen's eyes widened as the massive city came into view. His heart beat faster—not from fear, but from something new: excitement, hope, and the thrill of the unknown.
He held his hammer close and whispered, "I'm ready."
The road to Star City was nearly over. But the real journey was just beginning.