sukieawoketotheftchirpgofbirdsandthefirstlightofdawnfiergthroughthesalldowofthehutshestretched，savthetranilityoftheonttheeventfthepastfewdaysstillfesurreal，butthesteadypresenceofhanfenglghadgroundedheraidstthewhirldof
asshedressedandpreparedfortheday，sukieuldn，tshakethefeelgthatthgsignifiasabouttohappentheairseedchardwithanticipation，ahevilrsovedwithasenseofpurposeandurncyshesteppedoutside，takgadeepbreathofthecrispair，andadeherwaytothetraggroundswherehanfenglgwasalreadywaitg
＂good，sukie，＂hegreetedherwithawarsile，hiseyesklgattheers＂readyforanotherdayoftrag?＂
sukiereturnedhissile，herheartfttergatthesightofhi＂alwayswhatdoyouhavepnnedfortoday?＂
＂today，wefohongyicabilities，＂hesaid，histoneserio＂you，veshowpotential，butthere，sstilluchtolearnthedarklord，sionsarepowerful，andweneedeveryadvantawet＂
sukienodded，deteratiochedonherface＂i，readylet，sdothis＂
theyspentthepractigvariospellsandtations，hanfenglgpatientlyguidgsukiethrougheachstepshefethepowerflogthroughher，atgliionthatadeherfeeliveaedtotheworldarouheoreshepracticed，theorefidentshebecaherabilities
＂you，redoi，sukie，＂hanfenglgsaid，hisvoicefilledwithpride＂you，reanatural＂
sukiebshedathispraise＂thanks，hanfenglgiuldn，thavedowithoutyou＂
asthedayworeoookabreaktorestandhavenchtheysatuheshadeetree，shargasiplealofbreadandcheesesukieleanedagastthetrunk，feelgtheroughbarkagastherbackasshelookedupatthesky
＂telloreaboutyourworld，＂hanfenglgsaidsuddenly，breakiablesilence＂whaasyourlifelikebeforeyoucahere?＂
sukiethoughtforaont，herddriftgbacktoherlifeiy＂iasordary，isupposeiworkedao－fivejob，spentostofytifrontofaputersihadfriends，butialwaysfelikethgwasissglikeiwasantforthgore＂
hanfenglglistenedily，hisgazeneverleavgherface＂andnowthatyou，rehere，doyoufeellikeyou，vefoundwhatyouwerelookgfor?＂
sukiesiled，reagouttotakehishand＂yesifeellikeifallybelongwhereandit，sallbecaeofyou＂
hanfenglg，sexpressionftened，andheseezedherhaly＂i，gdyoufeehaay，sukiey
ouanalottotoo＂
theirtenderonasterruptedbytheundofapproagfootstepssukieandhanfenglgturoseethevilleaderhurrygtowardsthe，herexpressiongrave
＂hanfenglg，sukie，＂shecalledout＂there，sbeenanattaoneofouroutpostsweneedyourhelp＂
hanfenglgstoodup，hisdeanorstantlyshiftgtothatofaleader＂we，reonourway＂
sukiefollowedhi，herheartpoundgwithaixoffearaerationtheyicklygatheredtheironsaofftowardstheoutpost，thevilrswordfeandsupportastheypassed
thejourneywasteheairthickwithanticipationastheyapproachedtheoutpost，theyuldseesokerisgiahesightfilledsukiewithasenseendsheiedherpace，hanfenglgrightbesideher
whentheyarrived，thesewaneofchaostheoutposthadbeenoverrunbythedarklord，sforces，thedefendersfightgvaliantlybutclearlyoutnuberedhanfenglgidiatelysprangtoa，hisswordfshgasheeheeneysukiedrewherownoragkigasshejoihefray
thebattlewasteheundfgsteendcriefpafillgtheairsukiefoughitheverythgshehad，hernewfoundskillsandagicabilitiesgiviheedsheneededsheuldfeeheadrenalihroughherves，hersensesheightenedassheovedwithprecisionandgrace
aidstthechaos，sukiespottedayoungboycbehdabarricade，hiseyeswidewithfearwithouthesitation，shefoughtherwaytohi，gheragictoshieldthefrotheeney，sattacks
＂areyouokay?＂sheasked，hervoitledespitetheurncyofthesituation
theboyearsstreagdownhisface＂i，scared＂
sukiereachedout，pgareassurghandonhisshoulder＂it，sgogtobeokaystaycloseto＂
withtheboysafelybyherside，sukietiofight，herdeterationunwavergsheuldseehanfenglgnearby，hisoventsfidandpowerfushecutthroughtheeneyrankstheireyestbriefly，andsukiefeasurthfrohisunwavergsupport
fally，afterwhatfelikehours，thetideofthebattlebegantoturnthedefendersralliedtother，phgbacktheeneyforceswithrenewedvigorhanfenglihechar，hispresenspirgthosearoundhisukiefoughtbyhisside，theiroventsperfectlysyheyworkedtothertodrivetheeneyaway
wheofthedarklord，sionshadbeeed，acheerwentupfrothedefeheoutposthadbeensaved，butthesthadbeenhighanyywoundedordead，andthevilleaderovedicklytanizeaidforthejur
ed
hanfenglgandsukietookaonttocatchtheirbreath，leangoneachotherforsupporttheboytheyhadsavedranuptothe，hiseyesfilledwithgratitude
＂thankyou，＂hesaid，hisvoicetreblgwitheotion＂yoavedylife＂
sukiesiled，rufflghishairntly＂we，rejtgdyou，resafe＂
astheboyranofftojohisfaily，hanfenglgturosukie，hisexpressionfilledwithpride＂youwerecredibleoutthere，sukieiknewyouhadityou＂
sukiebshed，feelgaixofprideandhuility＂iuldn，thavedowithoutyou，hanfenglgwe，reatea＂
hepulledhertoatightebrace，holdgherclose＂yes，weareandtother，weovereanythg＂
theirbonddeepenedevenfurtherierathofthebattle，thesharedexperienunbreakableebeeeheyspentthefewdayshelpgtorebuildtheoutpost，walongsidethevilrstorestorewhathadbeenlost
oneeveng，astheysatbythefire，hanfenglgtooksukie，shandhis，hisexpressionserio＂sukie，there，sthgiotellyou＂
sukielookedathi，herheartpoundg＂whatisit?＂
hanfenglgtookadeepbreath，hiseyessearghers＂i，vebeenkeepgthgfroyouthereaniwasthebookstorethatday，thereashtyouhereiasn，tbyceiknewyouweredestiopyacrucialrolehtagastthedarklordyou，renotjtanordarypern，sukieyouhaveauniepowerwithyou，ohatthefateofthisworld＂
sukiefearhofeotions:fion，fear，andasenseofresponsibility＂whydidn，tyoutelloner?＂
＂irotectyou，＂hanfenglgsaid，hisvoicefilledwithsiy＂ididn，anttooverwhelyouwiththetruthbeforeyouwerereadybutnow，ibelieveyou，rereadytoebraceyourdesty＂
sukietookadeepbreath，herdragwiththeiplicationfhiswordsshehadalwaysfedifferent，likeshewasantforthgorenow，italladesense
＂whatdoiodo?＂sheasked，hervoicesteady
hanfenglg，seyesshohadirationandlove＂weoharnessyourpower，trayoutotrolitwithyourabilities，wefallydefeatthedarklordandbriothekgdooflian＂
sukienodded，deteratiherheart＂i，lldowhateverittakes＂
and，theirjourued，filledwithchallensandtriuphs，heartbreakandjoysukieandhanfenglgfacedeachobstacletother，theirloveandtrteachotherunwavergwitheachpassgday，sukiegrewstronr，herpowersdevelopgwaysshehadneveriaged
astheypreparedfortheuiatef
rontationwiththedarklord，sukiekhattheirlovewastheirgreateststrengthtother，theywereunspableandwithhanfenglgbyherside，shewasreadytofacewhateverdestyhadstoreforthe
theirbonddeepenedfurther，eaenttotheratestanttotheirunwavergitnttheysharedtheirhopesanddreas，theirfearsandsecurities，fdgeachother，sebracetheirlovewasabeaoflightthedarkness，guidihroughthetoughestoftis
astheystoodontheprecipiceofthefalbattle，sukiefeasenseofpeaoatterpened，shekhatsheandhanfenglgwereanttobetothertheirlovewasaforcethattraiandspace，abondthatuldneverbebroken
and，withheartsfullofloveaeration，sukieandhanfenglgsteppedforward，readytofacetheirdestyaurefilledwithhopeandpossibility
thesuncastagoldenglowoverthevilassukieandhanfenglgpreparedfortheday，sjourheyhadreceivedwordthatthedarklord，sforcesweregatherganearbyregion，andtheyosuttheareaandgathertellihevilrswatchedthewithaixofadirationand，theirhopesrestgontheshoulderfthebraveduo
astheysetout，theairwasfilledwiththestofbloogflowersandtheundofrtlgleavessukiewalkedbesidehanfenglg，herheartbeatgwithaixtureofexcitentandtrepidationsheghi，hisstrongprofileoutledagastthelight，aasurofgratitudeforhisunwavergpresence
＂areyoureadyforthis?＂hanfenglgasked，hisvoicefilledwithrelve
sukienodded，hereyesetghis＂asreadyasi，lleverbewithyoubyyside，ifeellikeifaythg＂
hesiled，reagouttotakeherhand＂we，lthroughthistother，sukiewealwaysdo＂
theirjourookthethroughdenseforestsandacrossrockyterra，thendscapeggastheyventureddeeperiorythefurthertheywent，theoretheatosphereshifted，begdarkerandoreforebodgthetreesseedtoclosearouheirbranchesreagoutlikeskeletalfrs
astheywalked，sukieuldn，tshakethefeelgthattheywerebegwatchedshegncedoverhershoulder，buttherewasnothgtherejtthewhisperofthedaantcallfunseeures
＂hanfenglg，＂shesaidftly，hervoidwithunease＂doyoufeehat?likewe，rebegfollowed?＂
hefrowned，hiseyessgthesurroundgs＂yes，isetooweobecautio＂
theytuedonward，theirsensesheightened，everyundandoventputtgtheohetensioweenthea
lpable，asilentuandgpassiweehattheyostayvigt
astheynearedaclearg，sukieheardartlgthebhesshetensed，herhandovgtothehiofherswordhanfenglgpcedareassurghandonhershoulder，histouchgroundgher
＂stayclose，＂hewhispered，hisvoicebarelyaudible
theyovedforward，gclosertotheurceoftheundsuddenly，afigureburstfrotheunderbrh，stublgandfallgattheirfeetiasayounggirl，herclothestornanddirty，herfacestreakedwithtears
＂help，please，＂shebegd，hervoicetreblgwithfear＂they，reg＂
sukiekbesidethegirl，herheartagatthesightofherdistress＂whoareyou?what，shappeng?＂
thegirllookedup，hereyeswidewithterror＂ynaisithedarklord，sldiersattackedetheytookyfailyiaoescape，butthey，restilloutthere，seargfor＂
hanfenglg，sexpressiondarkened，andhehelpedthegiroherfeet＂wewoheharyou，iyou，resafewith＂
jtashespoke，agroupofldierserdfrothetrees，theirargnaglythesunlighttheysurrouhe，theironsdrawn
＂hahegirl，＂theleaderoftheldiersdeanded，hisvoiceldandauthoritative＂shebelongstothedarklordnow＂
hanfenglgsteppedforward，hisstaective＂you，llhavetotthroughfirst＂
theleadersneered，raisghissword＂beit＂
thebattlethatensuedwasfierdchaoticsukiefoughithallheright，hertragandagicabilitiesgtotheforesheovedwithgradprecision，herswordfshgassheparriedandstruckhanfenglgwasawhirldofpowerbesideher，hisoventsfidanddeadly
iwatchedaweandfear，herheartpoundgasthefightradaroundhersheuldseethedeterationsukie，seyes，thestrengthhanfenglg，soventstheywereunlikeanyoneshehadeverseen，aaglirofhopeforthefirsttisiheattahervil
fally，afterwhatfelikeay，thestoftheldiersfellsukieandhanfenglgstoodpantg，theirbodiesbruisedandbloodiedbutvictorioirantothe，tearsstreagdownherface
＂thankyou，＂shebbed，ggtosukie＂thankyouforsavg＂
sukiehugdhertightly，herheartbreakgfortheyounggirl＂you，resafenow，iwe，llprotectyou＂
hanfenglglookedaround，hisexpressiongri＂weoovethereuldbeoreldiersnearby＂
theytiheirjourney，iwalkiweensukieandhanfenglg，hersallhandgrippgsukie，stightlyastheytraveled，i
toldtheoreabouttheattahervil，hervoicetreblgwitheotionsukielistenedily，herheartagforthesuffergihadendured
＂don，orry，i，＂sukiesaidntly＂we，llfdyourfailywe，lldoeverythiohelpyou＂
ilookedupather，hopeshghereyes＂thankyou，sukieidon，tknowwhatiwouldhavedohoutyou＂
astheyadetheirwaydeeperiory，sukieuldn，tshakethefeelgofuhatlredsheghanfenglg，whoseedlostthought
＂hanfenglg，＂shesaidftly，hervoicebreakgthesilence＂whatareyouthkg?＂
helookedather，hiseyesfilledwithaixofeotions＂i，worried，sukiethedarklord，sforcesaregrogstronrweobecarefularteachotherpletely＂
sukienodded，herheartswellgwithdeteration＂itrtyou，hanfenglgorethananyoneandikhistother＂
hesiled，hisexpressionfteng＂itrtyoutoo，sukieandwithyoubyyside，ifeellikewefaythg＂
theypressedon，theirbondstrengthengwitheachstepastheytraveled，theyenterednfthedarklord，sfence:vilsburotheground，failiestornapart，achedtothefacefthosetheytsukie，srelvegrewstroheaewhorrortheywitnessed，herdeteratiothedarklordunwaverg
oneeveng，astheysetupcap，sukieandhanfenglgsatbythefire，iledbeeehewarthofthefsandtheietofthenightprovidedaontofrespitefrotheirarduojourney
＂sukie，＂hanfenglgsaid，hisvoicebreakgthesilehere，sthgi，vebeenangtotellyou＂
sukielookedathi，herheartpoundg＂whatisit?＂
hetookadeepbreath，hiseyesfilledwithiy＂iknowwe，vebeenthroughalottother，andidon，anttoaddtotheburdenyou，recarrygbuteedyoutoknowhowueantoiloveyou，sukieorethanwordsexpress＂
sukie，sheartswelledwitheotion，tearsfillghereyes＂iloveyoutoo，hanfenglgwithallyheart＂
hereachedout，takgherhandhis＂noatterpens，wewillwaysbetotherourloveiurstrength，andiillguidethroughthedarkestoftis＂
iwatchedthe，asallsilepygonherlipsforthefirsttialongti，shefeasenseofpeadhopeshekhaithsukieandhanfenglgbyherside，shewassafe
astheysatbythefire，shargtheirhopesandfears，theirbondgrewevenstroheywerenolonrjtopeoplebroughttotherbyfate；theywereatea，afailyandtheywerereadytofacewhateverchallensyahead
the，theysetoutonceore，theirheartsfi
lledwithdeterationandlovetheytiheirjourney，gathergrationandaidgthoseneedalongtheway，theyenteredoreallies，peoplewhosharedtheirgoalofdefeatgthedarklordapeacetothekgdooflian
oneday，astheyapproachedasallvil，theyweretbyagroupofvilrswhohadheardoftheirexploitsthevilleader，anelderlyanwithakdface，steppedfreetthe
＂wele，heroes，＂hesaid，hisvoicefilledwithgratitude＂wehaveheardofyourbraveryandyhtagastthedarklordwearehoohaveyouhere＂
sukieandhanfenglxdagnce，hubledbythevilrs，words＂thankyou，＂sukiesaid，hervoicere＂wearejtdogwhaetohelp＂
thevilleadernodded，hiseyesfilledwithrespect＂youreffortsahanyouknowplease，staywithforawhilerestandreverwewillprovideyouwithanythgyouneed＂
sukieandhanfenglggratefullyaeptedtheoffer，andtheywereshowntoasall，fortablehoewheretheyuldstaythevilrswerekdandwelg，thefoodandsupplies
astheysettled，sukieuldn，thelpbutfeesenseofuhedarklord，sforceswererelentless，atheirrespitewouldbeshort－livedbutfornow，shewasgratefulfortheontofpeace
thateveng，astheysatbythefire，sukieandhanfenglgtalkedabouttheirjourneyandtheirpnsforthefutureilistenedily，hereyeswidewithadiration
＂wewilldefeatthedarklord，＂hanfenglgsaid，hisvoicefilledwithvi＂andwewillrestorepeacetothisnd＂
sukienodded，herheartswellgwithdeteration
thedawnofanewdaybroughtasenseofcalandhopetothesallvilwheresukie，hanfenglg，andihadfethevilrshadbeencrediblykd，food，sheer，andabriefrespitefrotheirarduojourneyyet，theshadowofthedarklrogpowerloodoverthe，andsukiekheirtiofpeacewasfleetg
asthefirstlightoffieredthroughthedow，sukiestretchedandgotoutofbed，feelgasenseofdeterationtodaywasthedaytheywouldgatheroretellinthedarklord’spnsandfurthertheirissiontosavethekgdooflianshedressedicklyandietly，noantgtowakei，whowasstillundasleep
steppgoutside，sukietookadeepbreathofthecrispair，savtheontarytranilitythevilwasgtolife，withvilrsbegngtheirdailyroutes，unawareofthedanrofathergonthehorizon