The day passed in a tranquil haze, the sun casting a warm golden hue over the sea and illuminating the stone walls of the temple. The air was filled with the scent of salt, fresh earth, and the faintest whisper of wind. Hatku felt a quiet sense of peace settle over him, a feeling he hadn't known in a long time.
He and Tashina had kept to themselves for most of the day, taking refuge in the sanctuary Shyla had offered. Hatku had spent a portion of the afternoon training on the cliffs, finding solace in the steady rhythm of his movements. He could feel the cool, familiar presence of the sea, the steady pulse of nature—something he had always taken comfort in.
But even amidst this temporary peace, his thoughts couldn't escape the storm brewing within. Hatku knew there was much more to his journey than the battle he had led Shyla to believe. The truth about why they had come—why they were in this realm, why he was searching for answers—remained locked inside him, a secret that could never be shared, at least not with her.
As night began to fall, Hatku stood on the cliffs overlooking the darkening horizon, the cool air brushing against his face. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was oddly calming, yet the tension in his chest remained. He had told Shyla they were here for a battle, a match to prove his strength. That was the story, and he had stuck to it. But in the silence of the night, the weight of the unspoken truth pressed harder.
"Hatku?"
He turned to find Shyla standing behind him, her figure bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. Her red-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and there was a quiet grace to her movements. She had an air of calm around her, but there was something else in her eyes—a curiosity that Hatku couldn't quite place.
"You've been quiet," she said, her voice soft but piercing through the stillness. "Is everything alright?"
Hatku hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to answer. His mind raced, and the familiar ache in his chest tightened. But he didn't want to lie to her—at least not in a way that would make her question everything.
"Just thinking," he said finally, turning away from her to face the sea once again.
Shyla didn't speak at first. She simply stood beside him, her eyes following the waves. There was something almost soothing about her presence, a quiet strength that matched the calm of the night.
"You've been through a lot," she said after a while, her tone gentle but knowing. "I can see it in your eyes."
Hatku was taken aback by her perceptiveness, but he didn't deny it. "We've all had our share of struggles," he replied, his voice soft. "But it's the ones that come after that really matter."
Shyla glanced at him, her lips curving slightly upward in a sad, understanding smile. "It's the aftermath of battles that leaves the deepest scars, isn't it?"
He nodded slowly, not trusting himself to speak. The truth was, he wasn't sure what would happen after the match. He didn't know what would come of the search for the Ultimate Being or if the curse on his mother could even be lifted. Everything felt so uncertain.
Shyla let out a soft sigh and stepped closer, her presence warm and steady. "I know you're carrying a lot," she said quietly. "But you don't have to carry it alone."
Hatku felt something shift inside him—something he hadn't expected. In that moment, as he stood beside her, he realized how much he had been searching for something, anything, to anchor him. And for the first time in a long while, he thought maybe this could be it.
He turned toward her, meeting her gaze with a quiet sincerity. "Thank you," he said, his voice low but genuine.
She offered him a small, reassuring smile. "You don't need to thank me."
The moment stretched between them, a quiet understanding passing in the stillness of the night. Hatku wanted to say more, wanted to tell her the truth, but he couldn't—he didn't know how. Instead, he simply gave her a nod, acknowledging the peace that had settled between them.
"I'll head back," Shyla said, breaking the silence. "You should rest. Tomorrow will come soon enough."
Hatku watched her turn and walk back toward the temple. As her silhouette faded into the night, he felt a pang of longing—a strange feeling he hadn't quite expected. But he pushed it away, forcing himself to focus on what lay ahead. Tomorrow, they would face what came next. And for now, that was all he could do.