Pov Author
The Painting Hall had always been a place of silence.
Not the peaceful kind—
but the heavy, sacred quiet of memories that did not want to be disturbed.
Tall pillars carved with ancient runes stretched toward the ceiling, where moonlight filtered through enchanted glass, casting pale silver across the walls. Paintings lined the hall from floor to ceiling—warriors, gods, fallen allies, enemies turned to dust, faces frozen in moments of triumph or regret.
Every person Shou Feng had ever allowed himself to remember lived here.
Tonight, the silence felt… wrong.
Shou Feng stood at the center of the hall, arms crossed behind his back, black robes brushing the marble floor like living shadows. His expression was carved from stone, but the air around him pulsed—darkness breathing in and out as if responding to something unseen.
Kiyoshi stood to his right, calm but alert, flute resting against his palm. Kitsune sat near his feet, nine tails flicking restlessly.
Yuvan leaned against a pillar, green and gold robes immaculate, eyes sharp despite his relaxed posture.
Mong sat on the edge of a low table, legs swinging, chewing on something he had absolutely stolen from the kitchens.
And Renji—
Renji lingered near the back, half in shadow, arms crossed, eyes cold.
"She didn't just vanish," Mong said, breaking the silence. "People don't just poof unless someone is being extremely rude with magic."
Shou Feng said nothing.
His gaze moved slowly across the paintings—faces he knew, faces he had destroyed, faces he had once sworn to protect.
None of them were her.
"She wouldn't leave without saying something," Yuvan added quietly. "Anna isn't careless."
"She's human," Renji said flatly. "Humans panic."
That did it.
Shou Feng's eyes snapped toward him, black irises flashing like a storm breaking open.
"Careful," Shou Feng said, voice low and lethal. "You speak of her again, you'll lose your tongue."
Renji's lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. "So she matters that much."
Kiyoshi stepped forward gently. "Enough. We are not enemies tonight."
"Speak for yourself," Mong muttered. "I'm enemies with everyone who loses important people."
Shou Feng turned away from them.
And that was when he saw it.
The newest painting.
His steps slowed.
The air around him stilled.
Painted in soft gold and shadow stood Anna—exactly as she looked the night she vanished. Brown hair falling loose over her shoulders, almond eyes filled with stubborn defiance, chin lifted like she refused to bow even to gods.
Around her neck—
The necklace.
Shou Feng stopped breathing.
A thin chain of dark silver. At its center, a black crystal etched with symbols older than kingdoms.
His mother's necklace.
The hall reacted instantly.
The torches flared. Shadows crawled along the walls.
Shou Feng's hand clenched slowly into a fist.
"That necklace," he said.
Everyone turned.
Mong squinted. "Yes. Very shiny. Emotional vibes. I sense danger."
Shou Feng stepped closer to the painting, eyes locked on the crystal. "It's connected to me."
Kiyoshi's expression sharpened. "What do you mean?"
"It belonged to my mother," Shou Feng said coldly. "I gave it to Anna. Fully. As a gift."
Silence crashed down.
Yuvan straightened. "A personal relic?"
"She accepted it," Shou Feng continued. "Which means—"
"It binds," Kiyoshi finished softly.
Mong's eyes widened. "Oh. Oh that's bad. That's very bad."
Kiyoshi turned to Shou Feng. "It can be used to find her."
"Then do it," Shou Feng ordered.
Kiyoshi nodded and raised his hand.
Light bloomed.
Runes spiraled into the air. Kitsune's tails glowed, forming a circle around the painting. The crystal in the necklace shimmered faintly—
Then went dark.
Nothing happened.
The light faded.
The hall remained silent.
Kiyoshi frowned. "That shouldn't—"
"Try again," Shou Feng snapped.
Kiyoshi did.
Again, nothing.
Renji exhaled sharply. "Blocked."
Shou Feng's head turned slowly toward him.
"Really?" Shou Feng said. "Why don't you explain how you know that."
Renji pushed off the wall and walked forward. "Because I can help."
The room froze.
Shou Feng's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Really," he echoed. "Why?"
Renji stopped a few steps away. "I have my reasons."
Shou Feng took one step forward.
Darkness coiled at his feet.
"What kind of reasons?"
Renji met his gaze without flinching. "Do you want to find her or not?"
"shou," Yuvan cut in, tense. "We can argue later. We need Anna now."
Kiyoshi nodded. "Renji. What do you need?"
Renji's eyes flicked to the painting. "The necklace. A tracing spell."
Kiyoshi hesitated only a second before raising his flute.
The air shifted.
Golden symbols wrapped around the crystal—
And then Renji moved.
Black magic rippled outward like ink dropped into water. Candles flickered violently. The temperature dropped.
Air bent.
Shadows twisted.
Mong jumped off the table. "Oh come on, at least warn us before you do death-god things!"
The hall erupted in light.
The necklace lifted from the painting—
And vanished.
Gone.
Mong stared. "…Okay. Either I blinked, or someone stole Shou Feng's emotional trauma jewelry."
He pointed at Renji. "Did you steal it?"
Renji didn't look at him. "It went to Anna."
Mong blinked. "If you can send a necklace to her, why not one of us?"
Renji's lips curved cruelly. "Because you would die."
Mong gasped. "Rude."
---
Anna woke to darkness.
Cold stone beneath her knees.
Her wrists burned.
Chains.
She struggled, breath sharp, heart racing.
Her hands were bound above her head, wrists wrapped in black metal etched with glowing red symbols. Every movement sent pain shooting up her arms.
"Hello?" she called, voice echoing.
Silence.
Then footsteps.
A figure stepped into the dim torchlight.
He smiled.
"You always wake up beautifully," he said softly.
Anna's blood turned to ice.
---
The air was still vibrating when Shou Feng turned on Renji.
"If you've lied—"
"I haven't," Renji said. "She's alive."
That was enough.
Shou Feng turned away.
---
In the garden
Moonlight bathed the stone paths in silver.
Shou Feng stood beneath a twisted tree, hands clenched, breathing controlled—but barely.
"You're worried," a voice mocked.
Wataru stepped from the shadows.
"About a woman?" Wataru continued. "Worthless."
Shou Feng didn't turn.
"She's delusional," Wataru went on lazily. "Thinking her father is alive. Married, yet wandering between men. No wonder her husband cheated—with her own sister, no less."
The ground cracked.
Before Wataru could blink, Shou Feng had him lifted by the throat, slammed against the tree.
Darkness roared.
"Say her name again," Shou Feng growled, eyes blazing, "and I'll erase you from every realm."
Wataru choked, laughing weakly. "Touched a nerve?"
"She is mine," Shou Feng said coldly. "And if you so much as breathe in her direction—"
A servant burst in, panicked. "Lord Shou Feng—Kiyoshi needs you. Immediately."
Shou Feng released Wataru and turned away without a word.
Behind him, Wataru smiled.
Because Anna was screaming.
To be continued..