The Lost Light

When Shen left the fortress, he felt an indescribably powerful urge; he knew he had to find Sister Lina immediately. Overcome by this feeling, he went straight to the old church.

When he arrived and opened the doors, he was met with the smell of cold stone and candles. However, the deep silence inside did not comfort him. Instead, it only made the anxiety in his heart grow stronger.

A nun, with a simple wimple framing her face, saw his sudden arrival. Her face was a mix of apprehension and fascination as she walked toward him. Her gaze lingered on the shining rank insignia tied to Shen's shoulder as she took in his imposing presence, the fear etched into the creases around her eyes growing.

"Commander," she said in a low, respectful tone. "What brings you here? Can I be of any assistance to you?

The cool air did nothing to slow the racing heartbeat, so Shen took a deep, calming breath. "I'm trying to find Sister Lina. Is she here?” The worry that weighed so heavily on him made his normally solid and controlled voice rough.

The nun shook her head gently, her face softening with sympathy. "I apologize, Commander. Two days ago, Sister Lina was kicked out of the church. I'm not sure where she went, actually.

Shen felt the words hit her like a blow to the body. The nagging terror that had been his constant companion for hours tightened its hold as his heart fell. Had the worst already occurred? Was it too late for him?

His thoughts racing, he turned and walked out of the chapel without saying another word. Once outside, his gaze swept the surrounding area, searching for any sign, any hint. He made his way to the local marketplace, hoping that someone in the busy town might have noticed her. The sounds of yelling sellers, children laughing, and the aromas of freshly picked produce and baked bread filled the air here like a frantic symphony.

He shouted, "I'm looking for a former nun named Lina," piercing the clamor and turning the heads of a group of women negotiating over textiles. She has blue eyes and beautiful blond hair, and she's about my age. Do any of you know her or have you seen her?

Before shaking their heads in unison, the women exchanged tentative looks and engaged in a whispered discourse. Speaking for the group was one of them, an elderly woman whose face was wrinkled from a lifetime of worry. "Commander, I apologize. Nobody in this place has seen or heard of such a person.

He was scratched by desperation. Shen continued to weave through the crowd, his voice growing hoarse as his questions grew more pressing. A shopkeeper, his eyes shining with recognition, stepped forward as a sliver of sadness started to breach his resolve. He was drying his hands on an apron.

"Oh, I recognize her!" the man said, his voice full with an almost awe-inspiring enthusiasm. "The kindhearted person with the hair of sunshine? She frequently came here to assist in caring for and feeding the homeless kids. That one is a real saint. However, the poor girl... I've heard that she was expelled from the church.

With each syllable, Shen felt a wave of icy dread that increased his worry. His voice shook with a mix of fear and hope as he said, "When did you last see her?"

As though the solution were inscribed in the clouds, the shopkeeper looked up at the sky with contemplation. "It was this morning," he eventually answered. She was on her way to the forest trail in the south. She passed by with a look of such deep grief, yet she didn't say anything during the brief instant our eyes met. She seemed to be bearing the weight of the entire earth.

Shen's hope was rekindled by the knowledge, a lone flicker in the oppressive blackness of his anxieties. As he started to run, he shouted, "Thank you!" over his shoulder. He hurried toward the southern forest route with a heavy heart and a fresh, desperate resolve. His concern for Lina seemed to grow with each thumping step, the terror inside him coiling tighter like a snake about to strike.

The trees became denser as he went farther into the forest, their tall shapes creating long, warped shadows down the trail. The wind's melancholy murmur through the leaves was the only sound to break the eerie silence, which stood in sharp contrast to the marketplace. It seemed like forever until the overgrown path cleared and he reached the cliff's edge. As Shen hurried to the edge, his heart pounded against his ribs.

Then he saw her—Lina—at the very edge.

Her figure loomed strongly against the fading light of evening, a lonely shadow against the huge, indifferent horizon. Something broke inside Shen. His voice sprang from his throat in a desperate yell, and his eyes were filled with a flood of emotion.

"Lina!"

His cries, raw with all the pain and fear he had repressed, reverberated through the quiet woodland.

Lina turned suddenly at the sound of his voice, flinching as though she had been hit. With her eyes wide and full of unshed tears, she appeared to be looking for one last glimmer of hope in a world that had given her none. She started running as soon as she saw him. Her body quivering with exhausted emotion, she drew closer to him and flung herself into his arms.

Shen encircled her in his arms, clutching her so firmly that he was afraid she might shatter. He was overwhelmed by a torrent of conflicting feelings—the great relief of finding her, the lingering horror of almost losing her, and a surge of delight so intense it was painful.

"Where were you, Shen?" With her voice muffled against his chest and her tears seeping through his uniform, Lina said. "You weren't at the stronghold when I went to look for you. I reasoned that perhaps.

"I'm here now," Shen broke off, his voice full of passion as he drew back just enough to look her in the eyes with resolute purpose. With a firm tone and a resolution that had been forged in the furnace of his anxiety, he said, "And I'll keep my promise."