In search of a mysterious blue light, Shenrae, Syrane, and Tori set out to explore the cave in Vaiyene's high mountains. Rumored to be the place of a lost child, the caves seem tame enough, but as they head deeper into the tunnels, the three friends soon find they're in for more than they bargained for. Filled with adventure, thrills, and a touch of mischief, this short story captures a moment between friends with a sense of wonder and times past.

Shenrae's POV

Syrane, Tori, and I stood outside the caves of Vaiyene with packs slung over our shoulders. A wry smile spread across Syrane’s face as he watched Tori fidget. She was standing closer to him than usual, her fingers picking at a loose thread on her kimono. Syrane and I often explored the caves together, but she rarely came with us. The thought of yūrei and the paranormal frightened her. 

Hefting my pack, I took a step inside the cave and glanced back. “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to, Tori. I know you wanted to have time to study the ancient texts before next week.”

“It’s okay. I can do it later,” she said, giving me a small smile.

Syrane shot me a knowing look before entering the mouth of the cave. “Well, shall we?”

I nodded. Tori started forward, and I followed after her, keeping an eye on her footing as she stepped over a small stalagmite. Water dripped down from the stalactites above us, running down grooves in the rocks to meet pools on the ground. The steady dripping echoed throughout the tunnels, creating a calm atmosphere and exuding a fragrant, earthy aroma.

I inhaled deeply; it was one of my favorite smells.

The light from the moon faded as we continued deeper into the cave, and darkness soon engulfed us. We paused to let our eyes adjust, then walked under the light of crystals set into the rocks. They reflected the silver glow of the moon’s light, illuminating our way.

I reached out my hand to reassure Tori, but she jumped, flinching away from me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” 

“Don’t you think we should light our lanterns?” Tori asked in a higher-than-normal voice.

“Once you get farther in and your eyes completely adjust, it’s easier to see,” Syrane called from not far ahead. “If we use the lanterns, we won’t be able to find the glowing lights.”

Tori sighed. That was, after all, why we had come. The caves were technically only supposed to be used by the Shadows when they left on missions. We were “forbidden” to enter them, but everyone in Vaiyene had ventured inside them at least once. 

Except for Tori. As the middle child of five siblings, she was more of a rule follower than Syrane and I were. Her older siblings had already been sponsored for meaningful jobs around Vaiyene and were no longer living at home, so it was up to her to set an example for her younger siblings. Because of that, she mostly avoided doing anything that even appeared to be wrong.

“You don’t have to come with us,” I whispered to her.

She shook her head. “It’s okay. Even though I’m scared, it’s sort of thrilling knowing that I’m breaking the rules.”

I laughed. I was sure most adults knew that their stories about the caves had a tendency to draw people here instead of scaring them away. If they didn’t want us to continue exploring the caves, they shouldn’t keep talking about a ghost wandering the tunnels. To me, that seemed like an open invitation. And while I wasn’t particularly mischievous, it was fun exploring one of Vaiyene’s most haunted locations.

I hastened to catch up to Syrane, resting my fingers against the cave’s wall and letting them trail over the damp surface as I moved. Despite Tori’s brave words, her breathing was stilted behind me.

“Do you have an idea of where the blue lights are?” I called to Syrane, intent on starting a conversation.

He laughed. “Not a clue.”

Tori groaned.

“Don’t worry,” I said, maneuvering over a pile of rocks on the ground. “We know our way around the caves, so you don’t have to be so nervous.” I pointed ahead. “If you follow the main tunnel to the end of the cave system, it leads to an overlook. The view is probably spectacular on some days, but every time we’ve found our way through to the end, it’s been too cloudy to see the valley below. If I remember right, there’s a small town not far away from here. According to our parents, the buildings there are made completely out of—”

Something wailed in the tunnel up ahead.

The hair on the back of my neck rose, and Tori let out a small whimper behind me. The eerie howl permeated the tunnels, droning on for a few moments before dying off. It reminded me of a child moaning.

Up ahead, Syrane paused. I could just make out the faint silhouette of his figure.

“What was that?” Tori whispered.

“The ghost of the child who was lost in the caves,” Syrane said, coming back to where we were standing. A wide grin spread across his face. The crystals in the walls next to us reflected just enough light for me to see the glimmer in his eyes and the whites of his teeth. “They say the sound of wailing causes you to lose all sense of direction. It's a warning to all those who enter.” Syrane looked back down the tunnel. “If you hear the cry three times, you’ll never find your way—lost to the darkness forever.”

Tori pressed her lips into a thin line.

Sighing, I gave Syrane a pointed stare before kneeling on a flat rock and removing the pack from my shoulders. “Since we’re getting close to the main part of the cave, we should probably get the lanterns ready.” I unrolled the wooden poles of three chōchin along with a vial of oil and a firestarter. After I had poured the oil into the tube of one of the lanterns, I struck two rocks together, creating a spark that turned into a flame. Carefully, I lit the other two lanterns and draped the paper coverings over each of them, attaching them to their respective wooden poles.

I handed one to Tori. Relief passed over her face. “Thank you.”

Glaring at Syrane, I passed him a lantern, and he continued ahead in the tunnel, a smirk still on his face. The light from his lantern hit the pools of water and cast undulating patterns on the wall. Shivering, I wished the lanterns radiated heat. I always forgot how cold it could get in the caves.

Keeping a mindful watch over Tori as we continued, I stayed a few paces behind Syrane, idly studying the cave walls. The layered sediments of the rocks were always interesting to look at, and more than a few times, I came across sections that resembled faces, mountains, and trees. 

Besides the steady dripping of water—and Tori’s loud breathing—the only sound in the cave was the hollow thunking from Tori’s wooden geta. Syrane and I both wore woven sandals as our parents did. I hadn’t thought to tell her to wear something more manageable, or something quieter.

A sudden gust of wind howled through the tunnels. Tori stiffened and grabbed my arm, her fingers digging into my skin. “What was that?”

“It’s just the wind,” I said, grimacing at her grip.

She shook her head. “No, it’s not. I saw something moving.”

Raising my eyebrows, I returned my attention to the tunnel ahead, spotting nothing but the swaying glow from Syrane's lantern. “There’s no one else here but Syrane. The sound you’re imagining as a child’s cry is just the wind being distorted by the tunnels. It’s a legend, nothing more. A story to keep us away from the caves.”

Tori shook her head. “It wasn’t him I saw.”

“Syrane, stop messing with Tori!” I called out. “It’s not funny.”

The glow of the lantern in the tunnel wavered, but he didn’t say anything.

“Syrane, come on,” I said, starting to get agitated. We had brought Tori into the tunnels to show her the blue lights, not to make fun of her paranoia and fear of the supernatural. 

“I’m not doing anything,” Syrane said from my right. I glanced over at him, and then my attention snapped back to the tunnel before us. The lantern and the person who had been walking there were gone.

My eyes narrowed. “Weren’t you walking ahead of us?”

Syrane shook his head and nodded toward one of the tunnels to the right, raising his lantern to illuminate the path. “I started down this tunnel a while ago. I thought I saw a blue glow, but I couldn’t find where it was coming from. It’s a dead end.”

Tori’s fingers continued to dig into my arm, and I pried them off before raising my chōchin. There were many different kinds crystals set inside the formations throughout the cave. Could we have seen some sort of a reflection? Although…I was pretty sure I had seen someone walking ahead of us too.

I tried to brush off my apprehension. “Next time, let us know when you’re wandering off alone.” Syrane nodded absently, and I led us down a different tunnel. “What did the Shadows say again? Something about how the lights illuminate when you draw near?”

“They weren’t very clear.” Syrane shrugged. The smirk on his face was finally gone. “Some of them said it was a blue glow that came from the ceiling, while a few of them commented about how they had seen a silver light from inside the rocks.” Syrane paused and thought for a moment. “The blue light I saw was moving, so I’m not sure it’s what we’re looking for.”

I paused, tilting my head. 

“Moving?” 

Syrane shrugged and spread his arms out to the side. “It was like a streak of something through the air. Not quite like a firefly’s glow, but similar to it. Or maybe it was more like a shooting star.”

I held my breath. That was something I had heard before, from our parents. “Do you think it’s the same thing that inspired Dad to create his fireworks?”

“Maybe.”

I turned to Tori, offering a brief explanation. “When our parents were younger, they got lost in the caves, spending hours within the tunnels. Eventually a strange light appeared, leading them outside. Our father said it had an otherworldly presence to it.”

I rested my hand on a rock, surveying the cavern. Tentatively, I took a few steps forward. The tunnel widened into a large open space. Multiple passageways led away from this one central area. My fingertips traced a line of water down the damp stone wall. Was there something more to the child’s howl and the light? Was it more than a story to scare children?

Whenever my father explained the inspiration behind his hanabi, his eyes lit up. He spoke fondly of that extraordinary experience in the caves, and I often saw him staring at the stars in the night sky with a sort of wanderlust. The fireworks he had created had been his attempt to harness the sheer joy of that moment. Seeing the source of inspiration in person would be special.

A shadow of a figure crossed into the light of one of the tunnels to our right. Sighing, I opened my mouth to yell at Syrane again, but I caught sight of him at the edge of my vision. Turning around, I saw both Tori and Syrane waiting a step behind me.

Syrane raised his eyebrows at me.

We weren’t alone.

“Someone else is here,” I said, narrowing my eyes. I tried to make out any of the figure’s details, but whoever it was had faded back into the darkness at the sound of my voice. Tori bristled at the comment, her eyes widening. Holding out my hands in front of me, I tried to calm her. “I’m sure it’s just one of the Shadows.”

“Or a yūrei,” Syrane said.

Tori stiffened.

I sighed and pointed at another tunnel to our right where two stalagmites had conjoined in a U shape in a hole in the wall. “Let’s continue on the path we’re familiar with.” We had brought some blankets and firewood with us, so we could wait until the Shadows returned from their latest mission to head back through the caves to Vaiyene. If there was someone in the tunnels, it might not be a bad idea to wait. Although, we would likely get in trouble for being here. 

I inhaled deeply, noticing that the air had become heavier and more fragrant. It seemed as if we were getting close to the underground lake, but that meant we were going in the wrong direction. Pausing, I glanced back at the way we had come.

Syrane was walking along with his hands behind his head as he hummed lightly, but seeing my hesitation, he lowered his hands to his sides. “What is it?”

I shook my head, turning to peer down the tunnel. I could just make out the glimmer of the lake. Had I gotten mixed up after seeing the stranger? Hastily, I walked back a few feet and scrutinized another tunnel in an attempt to get my bearings. The light from my lantern spread across the ground, making the water-slicked rocks take on an amber glow. We had explored the caves many times, and I had studied the different arrangements of stones and their layouts to make sure we wouldn’t ever get lost—but nothing seemed the same now. I returned to the others, a weight settling at the bottom of my stomach. 

I didn’t know where we were.

A voice echoed through the caverns, sending chills up my spine. The words were muffled and indistinct, and unlike the previous unearthly wailing, this voice was very much human.

Tori eyed me warily. Even Syrane’s eyes widened. I swallowed hard. My throat tightened as my heartbeat pounded in my ears. A cold sweat broke out across my back, and I clenched my fingers firmly around the handle of the lantern, moving past the others, forcing myself to appear unafraid. While I didn’t know which direction we were heading, it seemed like the most logical thing to do was to pick a direction and get moving.

If it was one of the Shadows we’d seen, they might need help.

If it had been something else…

Syrane bumped against my shoulder. “I don’t think we want to go this way.” 

I glanced over at him. “Do you want to wait for whoever that was to catch up to us?”

“We could wait at the end of one of the tunnels,” he said, nodding to a nearby dead end. “If we keep the main tunnel in view, at least we won't be caught off guard.”

But then we would be cornered.

I shook my head. “If we continue far enough, I’m sure we’ll begin to recognize some of the rocks and their arrangements. This just must be a place we haven’t been before.”

“Or the yūrei is distorting the tunnels,” Tori said quietly. She paused before letting out a shaky breath. “That was the third cry.”

I tried not to roll my eyes. “I don’t actually think—”

A shadow moved behind Tori, and she shrank back, pressing herself against the wall and into a nook. I raised my lantern, peering into the darkness. Tiny pebbles slid down from a stalagmite where the surface had been disturbed only moments ago. 

Tori fixed her eyes on the sliding pebbles. “Someone was there.”

With such tangible evidence, it seemed pointless for me to argue with her.

“Come on, keep moving,” Syrane said, putting his hand on Tori’s shoulder and pushing her forward.

A cold wind swept against my back. Syrane and Tori kept moving, but I turned around, taking a few steps in the opposite direction. The wind indicated there was an opening nearby. Our main concern was now safely finding our way out of the tunnels, away from whatever—or whoever—this threat was.

Kneeling on the ground, I placed my hands on the rocks and set my chōchin down. The light spread across the ground, revealing a small trickle of water beside me flowing down toward where Syrane and Tori had disappeared.. We had entered from Vaiyene, which was higher than the vantage point into the valley at the other end of the cave. It meant Syrane and Tori were headed in the right direction.

Another gust of wind tousled my hair, and a whiff of pine trees wafted over to me. Standing, I removed my lantern from the stick I was carrying it on and looped the string over a bulge in one of the stalactites.

It would serve as a signal to guide us back.

I headed after the others, keeping my footsteps light while being mindful of the uneven ground and sharp rocks. I tested each section of the path before I committed my full weight.

Tori’s and Syrane’s lanterns disappeared as they turned a corner. The halo of their light slunk after them, and the tunnel became dark. I let out a calming breath, telling myself not to panic. They were not far ahead. I could still catch up to them. Reaching out a hesitant hand, I trailed my fingers along the wall and searched with my toes for safe passage across the ground.

Rocks shifted behind me, and something scurried away.

“Who’s there?” I said, a slight tremble in my voice.

I shouldn’t have left the lantern.

Cautiously, I glanced over my shoulder. A dark shape took form as it moved toward the lantern hanging from the ceiling. Hands reached up to remove it. I rushed forward, stubbing my toe on a rock as I fell forward. “Don’t—”

But the light had been snuffed out.

I sighed.

Now how was I going to find my way back through the cave? I could go back the way I had come, but there was a good chance Syrane and Tori would become even more lost in their panic to find me. I reached out, finding the cave wall next to me. I hung my head, drawing in a steadying breath. If I followed the breeze and the smell of trees, I should be able to find my way.

I started to push myself upright but froze. The light from a lantern hovered in the middle of the tunnel. My heart pounded as the light flickered, went out, and then reappeared down the tunnel a short way away. The light remained in place for a breath or two before disappearing again and moving down the tunnel.

Was I supposed to follow?

I walked forward a few paces, and the light from the chōchin dimmed and reappeared before turning down a different tunnel. The wind gently blew my hair back from my face, so I could tell we were headed toward the vantage point leading down into the valley.

“Okay, ghost, lead the way,” I said softly.

A smile spread across my face as the wind howled behind me. But this time, a faint peal of laughter was carried through the tunnel to my ears. It seemed warm, as if there was nothing I had to fear.

The yūrei and I continued through the caves at a slow pace. If I got too close, the light went out, so I followed at a distance. Every so often a group of crystals shimmered above the lantern light. After I had been following for several minutes, I noticed a peculiar reflection in a particularly large crystal. Tilting my head, I could just make out the image of a young girl. Her blonde hair was tied up in a knot, with a paintbrush used to secure it. 

Finae.

Not wanting her to know I’d figured out who the “yūrei” was, I waited patiently as she chose the next tunnel to lead me down. We continued in the same manner as before, with the lantern fading in and out of view while she moved. The way she navigated the twists and turns made it seem like she had been in these tunnels many times. Was she not revealing herself because she didn’t want me to get mad at her for being here?

“Shenrae!” Syrane called. His voice echoed off the cavern walls, making it hard to pinpoint exactly where it was coming from.

A few moments later, Tori’s voice joined in. “Shenrae, where are you?”

They had finally noticed I was missing.

Finae hesitated, her head swiveling between me and the nearest tunnel.

“Thank you,” I said, keeping my voice close to a whisper. “I think I can find my way now, Finae. I won’t tell anyone I saw you here.”

Finae startled and almost dropped the lantern. “You knew?”

I chuckled. “I saw your reflection in the crystals a while ago. What are you doing here? You nearly scared Tori half to death.” 

Finae covered her mouth, unsuccessfully stifling her laughter.

I tried not to smile. “Finae, you shouldn’t scare people.”

She uncovered her mouth, revealing a mischievous grin. “Syrane seemed to be enjoying it, so I thought Tori would appreciate it if I was able to get under his skin. You know, as payback.”

A smile tugging at my own lips. “Do you think we can separate the two of them?”

Finae’s eyebrows rose. “But you said—”

“Scaring Syrane is different.” He was my brother. I could get away with a certain measure of sibling mischief without being scolded too much by our parents. And if we could successfully get him on his own, I would have no problem messing around with him. Tori was genuinely scared enough.

“Keep the lantern,” I said, mulling things over. It would be nice if Syrane was less smug about going into the caves. Besides, what were siblings for if not to have fun with? “If they see the light, they might think it’s me. Knowing Tori, she’ll let Syrane come down the tunnel first. I’ll stay behind and let Tori know what’s going on while you lead Syrane away.”

Finae nodded. The chōchin illuminated her face from the bottom, casting a harsh shadow across her face. I tried not to cackle as I thought about Syrane’s impending reaction to our scheme.

“What should we do after they’re separated?” Finae’s lips twitched into a smile; it seemed she already had a plan.

I leaned forward. “Do you have an idea?”

“Well, he seems to like the wailing an awful lot. There’s a long passageway that branches off from this tunnel where the acoustics are good. I can smother the light, head to the end, and put on a good act.”

I considered it for a moment. “Maybe try laughing. That’ll probably be more unnerving since he won’t expect it.”

Finae grinned. “I can do that!”

“We won’t string him along too much, but a little fun never hurt anyone.”

Wrapping my fingers around the edge of a wall, I peered into the next tunnel, spying Syrane and Tori. As I had expected, Syrane was walking in front, Tori following a step or two behind him. She held her lantern tightly in her hands, her head swiveling around frantically.

I crouched down, wedging myself behind a pillar of rocks before looking up at Finae. “It’s all up to you now.” 

She nodded and scurried away. 

Keeping my breathing steady, I sank lower behind the pillar. If I positioned my head just right, I could see into the tunnel. Soon, Syrane approached, the light of his lantern bobbing through the tunnel as he got closer. I held my breath, hoping I was well enough hidden.

“Syrane, do you see that?” Tori asked. 

The circle of light on the ground shifted as Syrane moved his lantern. I let out a slow breath, trying my best to remain quiet.

Syrane took another step forward. “Shenrae!”

After a moment, he raced ahead, passing my hiding place and continuing on down the tunnel. Tori hesitated, and I emerged from behind the pillar. Immediately, she took a step back, her arms instinctively crossing in front of her chest. Her eyes widened. “Shenrae, what are you doing?”

I put my finger to my lips. “The noises earlier were just from Finae. She was originally going to try and lead us outside of the caves, but after seeing Syrane tease you, she thought it would be fun to do the same to him. And then, well”—I smiled—“you know how Finae is.”

This, at last, made Tori smile.

Finae had a streak of mischief in her. Everyone knew it. It didn't bother anyone much, since her pranks were harmless and they always made people laugh. Kilo displayed the same playful streak sometimes.

Catching Tori’s eye, I stood and nodded to where my brother had disappeared. “Syrane is following after Finae now. What do you want to do?”

She narrowed her eyes in concentration, and then a broad grin appeared on her face. “It seems only fair to show him what it feels like.”

We both laughed.

“Fiane is probably going to lead him back into the caves, where the tunnels open up a little more. She’ll hide and then laugh maniacally.” I surveyed our surroundings, recognizing some of the nearby rocks and formations. “If we go down this tunnel, we can catch up to them quickly. There’s a small part we’ll have to climb through at the end, but if we want a good vantage point, it’ll be easier than trying to sneak behind Syrane.”

Tori nodded and raised her lantern. “Lead the way.”

Silently, we navigated through the warren of passageways, tiptoeing over piles of rocks, sneaking around corners, and ducking under stalactites. Before long, the walls of the cave began to converge upon one another, forcing us to continue on all fours. At the end of the tunnel, I pressed my head against a sizable crevice and peered into the next tunnel.

A dim light bounced off the cavern walls. 

Syrane’s progress was slow. We still had time.

After sliding through the opening, I motioned for Tori to follow. She maneuvered herself through the crack, and together we moved down into the cave, pressing our backs against the wall. The tunnel ahead was a little less dark, with rays of moonlight spilling in. It seemed we were approaching the exit.

Syrane lifted up his lantern. “Tori? Shenrae?”

A sudden howl pierced through the silence. It was somber and droned on, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Wasn’t Finae supposed to be laughing?

I peered through the darkness at a figure in the tunnel ahead, focusing against the light pouring in from outside the cave. Was that Finae? I could make out the shape of a lantern—no, three lanterns. They bobbed as if they were being carried. I frowned, and a quiet cackling came from one of the other tunnels. Syrane stiffened, and beside me, Tori covered her mouth to muffle her laughter.

That was Finae, but what was coming toward us from outside the cave?

Nudging Tori with my elbow, I motioned toward the entrance. “Someone else is coming.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Tori said, a mischievous smile still plastered on her face. “Is Syrane also in on the plan?”

Confused, I raised my eyebrows, then realized she thought I was joking. “No, there’s actually someone coming from outside the caves. By the looks of it, three of them are carrying lanterns.”

The smile remained on Tori’s face for a moment. Then slowly, it faded, and with it, all of her amusement. The caves were a buffer between Vaiyene and the outside world. Who was coming?

Grabbing Tori’s forearm, I pulled her back. “Let’s get Syrane and Finae and wait in one of the inner tunnels. There’s a possibility that—”

“Who’s there?” a deep voice called.

My throat tightened, and I darted forward, pulling Tori alongside me. We needed to get Syrane and head back to Vaiyene—never mind our original plans. 

In our haste, we almost ran into Syrane.

“There you both are!” he said, raising his lantern. He let out a deep breath before peering around at the caverns. Eyebrows low, he scowled suspiciously at our surroundings. “There’s something strange going on.”

I waved him off, grabbing his lantern and blowing out the light. “Finae was in the tunnels with us. We were trying to scare you, but right now, we need to find someplace to hide. Three people are...”

A dim light appeared near my feet and started to get brighter. Tori and Syrane stiffened. I glanced over my shoulder and spotted three figures approaching. Meeting Tori’s and Syrane’s gazes, I nodded, preparing to run back into the tunnels.

But a hand fell on my shoulder, holding me in place. “Woah, woah. Slow down there, little spitfire.”

I stiffened.

That voice. That nickname.

I whirled around. My father grinned down at me. He raised his chōchin, illuminating Syrane, Tori, and me. My mother and Kilo emerged from behind him.

“You know you’re not supposed to be in the tunnels,” my mother said gently. She came closer, and Syrane reached out his arms to give her a hug. Our parents had arrived home earlier than expected.

My father pulled me into a hug, and I wrapped my arms around him. 

Kilo scrutinized the cavern walls, tilting his head slightly. “You can come out now, Finae.” She ran to him from the shadows, extending her hands out as he knelt on one knee. He embraced her, placing the lantern onto the floor as she wrapped her arms around him. “Were you causing trouble again?”

Finae pushed away from him. “Of course not!”

Kilo raised his eyes to me, and I shrugged. A part of me was almost sad they were back early. I’d wanted to scare Syrane and had been looking forward to spending the night camping and waiting for them.

“They certainly take after you, Zavi,” my mother said with a sigh, crossing her arms. “You probably scared them half to death with your howling just now.”

“Ah, yeah, sorry about that,” my father said, rubbing the back of his neck. Then he smiled and winked at my mother. “But aren’t you proud they made it through the caves? There are a few Shadows who still can’t find their way through them.”

“That means they’ve been here enough times to have figured out how to navigate the tunnels.” My mother pursed her lips, watching my father try and formulate a response.

“It’s a clear sky tonight,” Kilo said, walking out of the cave. “Why don’t we spend some time here before heading back?”

Finae inhaled sharply. “Yes!” She rushed through the cave’s opening after Kilo.

I followed them outside, pausing at the edge of the cliff to admire the view. For the first time since I’d started coming here, the valley wasn’t obscured by clouds. Trees lined the mountainside, creating diagonal lines that followed the mountain’s curves. Near the horizon, the trees began to thin out, and I could just make out several rice paddies. The water reflected the glow of the crescent moon.

It was beautiful.

A gentle wind brushed against me, and I inhaled the crisp air. I loved the moonlight and the nighttime. The world was peaceful when the creatures of the day fell asleep and the creatures of the night awoke.

Tilting my head back, I gazed up at the night sky. The stars shone brightly tonight.

My father came to my side and placed his right arm around my shoulder. He pointed up at the sky, drawing my attention to a collection of three stars aligned in a row. The trio of stars allowed us to locate one of our favorite constellations: Solus Vaiyene, the Phantom warrior who’d led our ancestors to the Miyota Mountains. The larger, middle star had a slight bluish hue to it, and the two lesser stars around it cast a green light. The best way to visualize the constellation was to see the main blue star as the warrior and the green stars around it as the trees and the mountains.

“Solus Vaiyene,” my father said. “The grief-stricken warrior who left his homeland in search of a place to heal his heart.”

It was one of my favorite stories. Filled with love and sadness, the warrior had sought something more. It was a romantic tale about the beginning of Vaiyene.

I looked up at him. “Will you tell the story?” 

My father chuckled and placed his hand on my head briefly before looking around at those gathered. Finae, Tori, Syrane, and I started unloading the supplies, and Kilo began stacking wood to build a campfire.

“Solus Vaiyene,” my father said again, his voice seeming to carry back through the ages. He stepped to the edge of the overlook, his eyes fixed on the stars as he began to tell the tale…

“Many years ago, there lived a man who gave everything to his people. He was a Phantom, and as such, he served and guided the people, keeping watch for any threats or danger. His day-to-day life was a simple one, mundane to some, but one that he enjoyed immensely.

“One day, while walking the perimeter of his village, a voice called to him. It was not a voice that carried words but one that spoke directly to his heart. A deep longing awakened in his soul, and he set off to fill it, sure that if he began walking, he would feel better. Long into the night, he walked—until the moon rose high in the sky. The stars twinkled above him, encouraging him on his search. He was grateful for their companionship, as the darkness often frightened him.

“When the man reached the peak of the mountain, the deep longing inside him faded. He stood atop the mountain until the sun rose, waiting for the voice to return, but when it did not, duty pulled him back to his village. The next day, when the sun again began to set, he returned to the summit, awaiting the call. But like the night before, his heart didn't stir.

“In desperation, he began climbing the nearby mountains, worried he had followed the wrong path. Day after day, he traveled around the area, stopping at each peak and raising his head toward the stars. It had been months since the voice had spoken to him, but a part of him could not forget the intense emotion of the call.

“Weeks passed, and the Phantom began to lose hope. On one particularly cold night, he chose not to climb the mountains. Instead, he walked the perimeter of the village like he used to, staying close to the people and not letting his eyes wander back to the mountains. When he returned home that night, he found his daughter awake. She stood outside their house, her head tilted back and her eyes filled with moonlight. Her white hair caught the light of the moon, and when the Phantom drew near, his heart was overwhelmed by the sight...”

My father cleared this throat, looking over at me as he always did at this point in the story. It was one of my favorite parts, and I grinned as he came closer to me. Resting his fingers against the side of my face, he brushed away a lock of hair and gazed into my eyes.

“Reflected deep within his daughter’s eyes was the infinite expanse of the stars,” my father said, continuing the tale. “So overwhelmed was the Phantom that he began to weep, for the pain in his heart began anew.”

Removing his hand, my father smiled at me, nodding.

The next line was mine. “‘Father,’” the Phantom’s daughter asked. ‘Why are you crying?’”

“‘I heard the voice of the world, but when I went in search of it, I could not find it. I am afraid that whatever worth it saw in me has faded, and I am no longer worthy of its attention.”

“‘But, Father,’” I said, continuing my role as the daughter, “‘how can you be lost if you didn't know what you were searching for? Maybe the voice that was calling for you became lost itself. You cannot give up now.’”

My father nodded and took up the story again…

“Emboldened by his daughter’s words, the man returned to the mountains. Every night for almost a month, the Phantom made the same trek up and down the mountains. On the last day of a full moon, his daughter waited for him at the bottom of the trail. She raised her eyes to him, a question in them. Had it been anyone else, he would have felt he had failed, but his daughter looked up at him with the light of the stars, and instead of shame, his heart was filled with love for his daughter. He bowed to her and whispered, ‘Thank you for supporting me day after day’ before he returned to the mountains.

“With his heart renewed, he sat down on the summit of one of the mountains and closed his eyes. When the sun began to rise, the first rays warmed his body, and his muscles relaxed. But he remained kneeling and allowed his mind to calm. He had seen a silent conviction in his daughter's eyes, and an unspoken understanding had passed between them. She had not said the words to him, but he had heard them in his heart.

“‘Go, find the voice. I will take care of things here.’ For the Phantom’s daughter was a strong person, and when he was unwell, she took up his duties in the village. 

“No longer burdened by his daily tasks, the Phantom meditated in the mountains for nearly three months until one night, as quiet as birdsong, the voice reached out to him. Like before, no words were spoken, but deep in his heart, he felt a soft pull. The deep longing returned, and he continued to meditate, keeping his heart and mind calm.

“’What is it that you ask of me?’ he thought, knowing that this voice was as ancient as the land itself. He remembered a time when he was younger and this voice had spoken to him. How could he have forgotten? He had become lost within his daily life, forgetting how his journey began. He hesitated only briefly, thinking of his daughter, before he allowed his mind to become still.

“Another week passed, and the Phantom remained on the mountain. Down in the village, his daughter faithfully performed his duties, walking the perimeter and ensuring the village was protected. 

“One night, the starlight that touched her seemed to dance at her fingertips, and a lightness settled over her heart. Knowing that her father would return that night, she waited at the base of the mountain.

“When the Phantom returned to her, it seemed almost as if the stars themselves followed after him. His eyes shone with moonlight, but when he looked around their house, a deep sadness returned to them. Tears rolled down his cheeks, and his daughter’s stomach twisted with grief. She knew he was thinking of her mother—he always was. When she was born, her mother had died, and her father had been left to raise her. He spoke of her mother fondly, but never before had his grief been so openly shared.

“He had lived in the village all his life. Every time he walked through it, down the same streets, and spent time around the same people, did he remember her? Did their home bring back nothing but those bittersweet memories? Struck by the realization, his daughter became saddened and turned away. But her father reached out his hand, the glow of starlight shimmering around his fingertips. He placed his fingers against her head, and warmth passed over her mind. She saw flashes of her father and her mother when they were younger—the brightest memories he could share. Losing her had broken him. And he had protected this place for many years despite the pain it had caused him.

“The Phantom withdrew his touch, and the silver light faded. When he spoke, his words were gentle and filled with wonder: ‘There’s a place across Kiriku where a cave rests inside the mountains. It is said that the crystal waters there can heal the pain of any wound. For many years I have carried your mother’s death with me, and it is time for me to go. To find a new place to call home and go somewhere my heart can finally heal.’

“When they learned their Phantom was leaving, the people were devastated. They cried to see him go, but the Phantom shook his head, saying that it was time for a new Phantom to guide them. For forty years, he had given his life to them, and for the next forty, he wanted to give everything he had to his daughter…”

My father took a deep breath before he moved closer to the fire Kilo had built. My mother waved him over, and I inwardly groaned.

It was just getting to the good part!

My mother stared pointedly at me, and I sighed, reaching out to take one of the onigiri she and Kilo had laid out next to the pickled vegetables we had brought from Vaiyene. My stomach growled. Syrane had made the rice balls earlier in the day for us. A small rectangle of seaweed was wrapped around the bottom of each of them. Our village wasn't near the ocean, so nori was hard to come by, but my parents and a few of the other Shadows occasionally ventured to coastal towns to obtain different foods and supplies. To have this was a luxury, and I couldn’t help but savor every bite.

Syrane had used the last of the seaweed to make a treat for our parents’ return.

I ate quickly, finishing two rice balls and a portion of the pickled vegetables. My parents and Kilo still had some of the dried fish Syrane and I had packed for them. My mother unwrapped it from the rice paper and passed it around. I took a piece, remembering how we had laid the fish out on racks for a few weeks to fully dry.

Everyone was quiet, contemplative. The words of the origin story of Vaiyene still hung in the air. The wind, too, was hushed, as if the land itself was reveling in the tale.

Syrane, Tori, and I finished eating, as did my mother and Kilo. I tried not to glare at my father. He was eating incredibly slowly, and when he noticed all of us waiting, his mouth twitched into a half smile and he choked a bit on his food. Kilo held out a stick, opening the lid of the pot resting at the edge of the fire. Small cups were passed around, and when Kilo began to pour out the liquid, the aroma wafted over me.

My eyes grew wide. “Cider!”

Where had they found it? It was still a few weeks—maybe even a month—until the apples in Vaiyene would be ready to harvest.

“Mashin, the town we went to, was north of Vaiyene,” my mother explained. “Their seasons are slightly ahead of ours. They were celebrating their harvest and the coming of winter while we were there. Kilo thought it would be nice to bring some back, and they were more than happy to give us some.”

I sipped the tangy liquid. The spices were slightly different than those used in the cider here. My father continued to eat, but when he finished the last bite of his rice, he finally cleared his throat.

“Now, where was I?” he said, tapping his bottom lip with his forefinger.

“No one thinks you’re funny but you,” my mother said, bringing her cup up to her lips to take a sip. “I believe you were going to continue your story with the Phantom's arrival in the Miyota Mountains. But if you’ve forgotten, you can start over. I’m sure Shenrae would love to hear the whole thing again.”

“I wouldn’t mind either,” Finae said, a wry smile on her face.

My father chuckled nervously, placing his hand on the back of his head and rubbing it. “I think I remember now.” He straightened and crossed his arms, closing his eyes as he pondered the final part of the tale…

“The Phantom and his daughter trekked north, following the Kansai River as it snaked between great mountains and forests, deserts and plains. They spent many weeks traveling together, stopping along their way to harvest the roots and seeds from many of the plants. When they finally arrived in the Miyota Mountains, the seasons had changed and snow had begun to fall. They knew they needed to find shelter, but in every direction, they only saw white. Without being able to see, they moved forward, knowing it was deadly to stop in such weather.

“After a day of blind travel, they came to a cave. Lifting their lanterns, they noticed crystals set into the rocks. The Phantom and his daughter were captivated by the cave's colors, and they wandered for some time until they saw a silver light rising from the ground. Intrigued, they followed its glow out of the tunnels, and upon exiting the cave, they looked down at a valley. Jagged mountain peaks and snow-laden hills made the Phantom’s heart ache, for he knew the place they were looking at was home.

“The next day, they began building a house, and when spring came, they cultivated the land, learning its secrets. As he had done before, the Phantom climbed the mountains each day, watching the rising and falling of the sun. After many years, others came, and at last, the Phantom’s heart knew peace.”

My father took a drink of cider, letting out a long breath. I sipped on my second cup. Tori and Syrane were both looking up at the stars, while my mother’s gaze was focused on the campfire. Finae had pinned a piece of paper to the ground with her hand and was sketching the landscape with bits of charcoal from the fire.

Kilo sat across the fire from me,his eyes half-closed. “That’s not how it ends.”

The details were slightly different each time my father told the story, but—I narrowed my eyes and looked between my father and Kilo—it had always ended the same way.

“Legends always vary,” my father said, waving off Kilo’s comment. “I might have embellished in a few places.”

“I have no problem with the embellishments,” Kilo said, “but the true ending is at the lakes above the Reikon tree, where the Phantom found true peace. You also forgot the part about the Shadow bonds.”

My father’s mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.

“It’s a long tale,” my mother said, a smile playing on her lips as she regarded Kilo with amusement. “Considering you used to have trouble when you were a boy recalling the basics of being a Shadow, it’s surprising how much you do remember.”

Red tinged my father’s cheeks. “Shenrae’s always liked my version of the story,” he said, pursing his lips and then pouting. “It focuses on the Phantom and his daughter.”

That was true, but while I liked my father’s version, the lure of knowing the rest of the story was too strong for me to resist asking about it. I kept my eyes glued to Kilo and eagerly sat forward to hear the rest of the story. “What happens?” 

“Well,” Kilo said, looking up at the stars...

“After they left their home, the Phantom’s heart continued to be burdened by the death of his wife. Even though he had found some comfort in this new place, his heart remained broken.

“One morning, as he wandered around the mountain peaks, he found several silver lakes hidden in caves above what we know today as the Reikon Tree. Excited, he headed home to tell his daughter, but upon his return, he found she had taken ill. For days he tried every medicine he knew of, but none of the herbs he carried were able to cure her. He returned to the cave and fell onto all fours beside the water. Tears fell from his eyes, turning the water to silver. A presence suddenly filled the air. He felt arms wrap around him for a brief moment, and he knew his wife was there with him. As he stood up, small orbs of silver light floated from the lake and gathered around his forearm.”

Kilo paused, holding up his arm to display the silver threads wrapped around it.

“As the lights melted and merged into silver threads, the Phantom knew that he was not alone. His wife's will and his people's strength continued to be with him even after their deaths. With his strength renewed, he left the caverns, feeling a new sense of oneness with the land. He went to the top of the mountain and sat down, allowing his thoughts to calm.

“The herbs had not worked for his daughter, but surely there was something the water could do for her. After returning to the lake and filling a bamboo canteen with the silver water, he went home. He knelt by his daughter's side and offered the water to her. The fever had taken her, but when he coaxed her, her lips parted, and he was able to help her drink. Days passed, but still she didn't get better. He remained by her side constantly, never wavering, all the while listening to the earth's gentle hum and keeping faith that the water would heal her. On the third day, under the light of a full moon, he looked down and noticed her hair had turned silver and was glowing underneath the moonbeams. A sense of peace came over him, and he rested his head against his drawn-up knee, letting the world lull him to sleep.

“A hand on the Phantom’s shoulder startled him awake. His daughter knelt before him. The color in her face returned. It seemed that her fever had broken. It was then that the Phantom knew this place was one he must protect. The water in the caves had saved his daughter’s life, and the silver threads around his arm created a connection to those he missed.

“Days turned into weeks, and months turned into years. The Phantom and his daughter worked tirelessly, surveying the land, studying the fauna and flora in the valley, and cultivating a small garden to sustain them. They built a house made of wood they had collected from the forest, disturbing the land as little as they could.”

Kilo looked over at me. “That’s most of the remaining story. There are a few pieces still missing, but the Phantom and his daughter were the ones who began Vaiyene. His daughter’s life was saved by the silver lakes near the Reikon tree, and the tears of the Phantom created the Shadow’s bond.”

“And the Shadow’s Creed?” 

My mother laughed, covering her hand with her mouth. When she removed it, she shared a smile with my father and Kilo. “Now, that is another tale. One that your father and Kilo would unnecessarily embellish. You’re better off asking one of the Phantoms in a few years.”

Kilo smiled knowingly. I had already asked him about the Shadow’s Creed on more than one occasion, about how it had originated and who had written it. My parents had already told me about the seven virtues of the creed—justice, courage, compassion, honor, loyalty, truth, and strength—and had taught me to respect the Shadows’ way. It would be another six years before I would be eligible for sponsorship as a Shadow.

“There’s plenty of time for you to learn about the Shadow’s Creed and its history if you do choose to become a Shadow,” my mother said, now addressing Syrane and Tori as well. They’d been listening to the tale as intently as I had. “Right now, we want you to enjoy being young. Study what interests you, and don’t worry about what will happen when you come of age. In time, you will learn everything you need to about the Shadows, but for now, we want all of you to have fun. This period in your life is a special one.”

“Because once you’re a Shadow, you’re too weighed down by responsibilities to have fun anymore,” my father said, struggling to keep his face straight. “Mia and I are just too busy to enjoy life anymore. And you kids…”

My mother flushed. “That’s not what I meant, Zavi! I don’t want them worrying unnecessarily about things that are too far in the future.”

My father winked. “You mean like you used to?”

“No! Well, yes, but that’s not what I meant by any of it.”

My mother and father continued bantering while Kilo stood and walked away from the camp. Tori and Syrane were laughing as my father twisted my mother’s words more. At the edge of the campfire’s light, Finae continued to sketch the landscape.

Quietly, I trailed after Kilo. His eyes were fixed on the sky. After a moment he briefly glanced over at me. “Some nights, I wonder what it would be like to leave everything in search of a place where your heart can be at peace. What must it have been like for the Phantom to leave everything he knew because his grief was too great to bear? A part of me finds the prospect exciting. The other part—”

“Is afraid?” 

Kilo nodded. “But the Phantom didn't leave everything behind. He had his daughter with him. If he hadn’t, I wonder if he would have ever found Vaiyene? Regardless, I understand why he chose this place. No matter how far I travel, there’s something about this mountain that speaks to me.”

I smiled. “Like a voice on the wind?” 

I’d been joking, but Kilo seemed to take the comment to heart. “Yes, perhaps that is what it is—a gentle pull on my soul. It knows this place is where I should be. It’s why your parents and I became Shadows: to protect this land and those who reside in it.”

Kilo put his arm around my shoulder, drawing me close to him as we watched the stars.

We stood for some time at the edge of the mountain before Kilo withdrew his arm and nodded back toward the caves. It was quiet, which meant my parents had stopped their playful arguing. 

When Kilo and I stepped into the firelight, my parents were speaking more quietly, talking about the town they had just visited and the people they had met. Tori and Syrane listened attentively from their places next to the fire. I sat in between them, watching as Kilo and Finae slipped away. Whenever he returned home from a mission, Kilo headed straight for the Reikon tree and to the silver lakes beyond it. 

Leaning back on my hands, I looked up at the stars, listening to a story about how my parents had helped the village by repairing a bridge. My parents always dedicated time to do something special with us when they got back, sharing what they had learned and giving us food and gifts. It made Syrane and me happy, and given that Tori was around us so much, she often shared in the joy of their homecoming.

My mind wandered as I watched a wisp of a cloud float across the night sky. Contentment welled up in my heart, and I, like the Phantom from the story, felt a gentle pull on my heart.