Vill Long Feng continued his journey through the mountains, the obsidian amulet now securely tucked away in his satchel. Its strange power still lingered in his mind, a reminder that his path was no longer his own. The storm that had raged the previous night had passed, leaving a fresh calm in its wake. But Vill knew better than to trust the quiet—it was only temporary. There was a storm brewing, not in the heavens, but within himself.
The weight of the man's words continued to echo in Vill's thoughts. "True power is not just about strength. It is about understanding, patience, and wisdom." Wisdom was something Vill had not sought much of in the past. His life had been one of survival, of pure grit and determination. His bloodlines, though powerful, had only been a part of his journey—his will and resolve had shaped him into who he was.
But the amulet in his possession, the mysterious figure, and the cryptic warnings about others seeking his power—these were things that could not be ignored.
For the next few days, Vill focused on training, pushing his body to its limits. His mind, too, had to catch up with the power he was now wielding. He needed to understand it, master it, and bend it to his will. The energies of the Dragon and the Phoenix that flowed within him were volatile, wild—unpredictable. To control them would require discipline, more than he had ever given before. He would need to learn to listen to the fire inside him and tame it.
His thoughts turned to his wives. It was always the same—a constant pull between the solitary path of strength and the complicated ties of relationships. His mind had always been drawn to the latter with suspicion. Love and loyalty were not things he had ever believed in wholeheartedly, especially after the pain his father had inflicted on his mother. But as he trained, and as the power within him grew, he began to understand that his connection to them was not just about physical desire or obligation. It was deeper—stronger. And though he couldn't explain it, his connection to each of them had begun to shape him in ways he hadn't expected.
His thoughts of them were interrupted when he found himself in a clearing at the edge of the mountains. Before him stood a familiar figure—one he had not seen in years.
Lilly Long Feng, his mother.
Her presence was unmistakable. Though years had passed since he last saw her, the aura surrounding her had not changed. It was warm, comforting, yet powerful. The woman who had endured so much at the hands of his father now stood before him, as graceful and formidable as ever.
"Mother," Vill said, his voice steady, but with an undercurrent of something he could not identify. It had been years since he had seen her face-to-face, and the years had changed him in ways he could not yet comprehend.
Lilly's eyes softened when she saw him. The last time she had seen him, he was a boy, a child struggling under the weight of his father's cruelty. But now, he was a man—stronger, fiercer, and somehow… more than he had ever been before.
"Vill," she replied, her voice filled with both pride and concern. "You've changed."
Vill did not speak, but there was a fire in his eyes. His mother had always been his anchor, the one who had protected him from his father's abuse. He owed everything to her, and yet, there was something else—something deep inside him that told him their relationship had to evolve. Their bond would no longer be just that of mother and son. There was something more, something unspoken, that lingered between them now. It was part of the reason why he had been hesitant to get closer to her—because, deep down, he felt it too.
"I've been following your path," Lilly continued, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if searching for something within him. "I know what you've discovered. The power you now possess is no small thing."
"I understand," Vill replied, his gaze hardening. "But it's not just about power. There's something else—something I have to uncover."
Lilly studied him for a long moment, her eyes softening with understanding. "You're right. But be careful, Vill. Power like that... it's not meant for everyone. The Phoenix and the Dragon have their own price. And you, my son, are no exception."
Her words carried a weight that Vill felt in his bones. He had already realized that there were risks, but hearing it from her—a woman who had suffered at the hands of his father's abuse, and had survived—made him pause. The thought of the responsibilities ahead, of what he might become, gnawed at him.
"I will handle it, Mother," Vill said, his tone resolute, but soft with an underlying tension. He could not deny that he was afraid, in some sense. But he would never let fear control him.
Lilly's lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile. "I know you will. But remember, you're not alone in this. You never were."
With that, she stepped forward, closing the gap between them. Vill felt a sudden rush of emotion—a mix of longing, guilt, and affection. She reached up to place a hand on his cheek, her touch gentle yet grounding.
Vill took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. His mother had always been there, silently supporting him. But now, the weight of what was between them—of what was coming—pressed on his heart.
"Promise me," Lilly whispered, her voice breaking the silence. "Promise me you won't forget that you have a family, Vill. You have people who care for you—more than just your power, more than what you will become. Don't lose yourself in the fire."
Vill opened his eyes, meeting her gaze with a soft intensity. He nodded, his voice barely audible. "I won't."
For a long while, they simply stood there in silence, mother and son, bound by blood and fire, with the shadows of the past hovering over them. But Vill knew one thing for certain—whatever the future held, he would carry her words with him. They would be the anchor in the storm that was sure to come.