The forest shimmered in shades of gold and crimson, the air crisp with the fragrance of autumn. A gentle breeze carried drifting leaves, swirling like sparks from an unseen fire. Amid the beauty, the sound of children's laughter echoed — bright, fragile, fleeting.
Yang, only two years old, ran after her four elder sisters. Her silky black hair caught the sunlight, flowing down her small back as she stumbled into a pile of leaves.
Before she could fall, her second sister scooped her up, smiling despite the tension already hidden in her eyes.
"Careful, little one," she whispered, brushing dirt from Yang's pale robe.
Yang giggled and reached for the wind. "It tickles!" she said in her innocent voice, as though the breeze itself were her playmate.
The sisters exchanged warm glances. Even at their young ages, they had already made a silent vow: no matter what happened, they would protect the youngest — their precious sister of the Su Clan.
For a moment, life felt untouched, like the world itself was smiling.
Then the smile vanished.
Leaves rustled, heavy and deliberate. The birds fled the trees. From the shadows, figures in black and scarlet stepped forward — the Nemesis Clan. Their eyes gleamed with bloodlust, their blades reflecting the last light of dusk.
"Found them," one of the invaders growled. "The children of the Su Clan."
The eldest sister's heart clenched. She pulled Yang into her arms. "Run!" she whispered — but she knew there was no escape.
The Nemesis warriors closed in, encircling them like wolves.
Her eldest sister's voice trembled, yet her eyes were firm. "We must seal her power now. If they take Yang… the world itself will suffer."
The four sisters formed a circle around the youngest. Spiritual light radiated from their hands, converging on Yang's small body.
Yang blinked in confusion, her hazel-brown eyes wide as the glow surrounded her.
"Sisters?" she whimpered, sensing the fear in their hearts.
The youngest of the four burst into tears but pressed her hand to Yang's chest. "Forgive us, Yang… Please, live for us."
The ritual began. Their voices rose in unison, chanting the forbidden sealing technique of the Su Clan. But unlike other seals, this one did not place power on Yang — it drew forth the immense, unstable spiritual energy already within her, and bound it deep into her soul.
The air trembled. A brilliant aura surged, funneling into Yang. Her tiny body shook violently as overwhelming force coiled within her like a storm in chains.
The wind roared. The trees bent. Even the Nemesis warriors faltered.
"What—what is this power?!" one hissed, shielding his eyes.
The eldest sister, her strength fading, pulled a red ribbon from her hair and tied it gently around Yang's black locks. Her smile was broken but tender.
"This ribbon… will keep you safe. Even when we cannot."
The ritual complete, their bodies trembled with exhaustion. Without hesitation, they carried Yang to the riverbank, where a giant lotus leaf floated upon the current, as if summoned by fate.
The youngest sister kissed her baby sister's forehead, tears falling like rain. "The wind will guide you…"
With one final push, they set Yang adrift.
The leaf swayed, then carried her into the flowing river. Yang's small hands reached out, her hazel eyes shimmering with confusion as she stared back at the only family she knew.
Behind her, steel clashed and screams tore through the night.
The river carried her away, further and further, until the sounds of battle faded into silence.
Yang, too young to understand, only felt the emptiness in her chest. She reached for the drifting autumn sky and whispered with trembling lips:
"Don't leave me…"
And the wind — gentle, sorrowful — whispered back, carrying her into the river side village in a forest.