There was no battlefield.
No sound.
Only white light, like mist curling over calm water. Xiao Lin drifted, weightless, unbound by time or space. His body didn't hurt here. His mind was clear, too clear. It felt like standing between waking and something far beyond.
He turned—and she was there.
A woman cloaked in moonlight, her silver hair flowing like water, eyes that mirrored his own: warm, bright, and ancient.
"Mother…?" Xiao Lin whispered.
She smiled gently, stepping forward. "My sweet Lin'er. You've come so far."
His breath caught. He wanted to throw his arms around her, to ask why she'd left, how she had hidden all this from him. But her hand lifted, fingertips pressing lightly to his brow.
And suddenly, it all rushed in.
**Visions. Memories. Secrets.**
The truth behind her disappearance. She had been part of a hidden guardian bloodline, one that had once kept the balance between humans and beastkin—and had been hunted to extinction. The Zerg Queen had feared her lineage, and Xiao Lin, as her heir, was the only one who could sever the corrupted connection between the Zerg and the ancient power that fueled them.
He wasn't just a healer. He was a **warden**. The last of an ancient bloodline tied to the cosmic order.
"You weren't meant to awaken like this," she said softly. "But you were brave. And so kind."
He trembled. "I didn't want to lose anyone. Not Sheng Long."
Her expression softened. "You love him."
"I don't know if I'm ready," Xiao Lin admitted, "but… yes. I think I do."
She touched his heart, and warmth flooded his chest. "Then wake up, my son. The world still needs you. *He* needs you."
The light began to dim.
"Will I see you again?" he asked.
She gave him a sad, proud smile. "I'll always be with you. Every time your heart is strong. Every time you choose love."
And she was gone.
---
**Back in the physical world**, the medical tent was still. The battle had been won, but the silence was haunted by the fear of losing one more person.
Sheng Long sat beside Xiao Lin's cot, fingers curled tightly around his limp hand. His head was bowed, eyes dark with exhaustion and grief he refused to release.
"You stubborn, beautiful idiot," he muttered. "You saved us all… and left me behind again."
His voice cracked. "I can't lose you. Not now."
A whisper brushed his palm.
"…then don't."
Sheng Long's head snapped up.
Xiao Lin's lashes fluttered, silver eyes blinking slowly. A soft smile touched his lips.
"You're really loud when you sulk, you know…"
Sheng Long stared, completely still, and then pulled him into a crushing embrace. "You—don't do that again. Ever."
"I missed you too," Xiao Lin mumbled against his chest.