The sun was higher in the sky by the time Lin was done with her training. She wiped her sweaty palms on her pants and grabbed her sword bag, slinging it over her shoulder. She was starting to feel the burn in her muscles, but it didn’t bother her. She was used to it. It meant she was getting better.
But as she walked out of the dojo, something felt off. There was this weird tension in the air, like the calm before a storm. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but it gnawed at her as she made her way back to the small cabin her uncle and the others lived in. It wasn’t a big place, just enough for them to live in peace, away from the city. They had their little community her uncle, the monk, and a few other people who helped run things. It wasn’t much, but it was home.
She rounded the corner of the cabin and froze.
Standing in front of the door was a stranger. A man in dark clothes, his back to her. He had long, black hair that fell past his shoulders, and his stance was calm, like he knew exactly where he was and what he was doing.
“Who are you?” Lin asked, her voice steady, but her hand was already moving towards the sword at her side.
The man turned slowly, his eyes locking onto hers with an unreadable expression. For a moment, neither of them spoke. It felt like time had frozen for just that second. Then, he smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. It was cold.
“I’m looking for someone,” the man said, his voice low but clear. “Someone who’s been avoiding me for years.”
Lin felt her heart skip a beat. She didn’t know this guy. He didn’t seem like someone who belonged here. And yet, the way he spoke, like he knew her... it made her uneasy.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replied, her grip tightening on her sword. She didn’t know who this guy was, but she wasn’t going to take chances.
The man’s smile faded. He took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. “You don’t need to play dumb. I’m not here for you. But your uncle…” He trailed off, leaving the words hanging in the air.
Lin’s stomach twisted. Her uncle? What did he want with her uncle?
Suddenly, the man’s expression shifted more serious now, less playful. “I’ll be seeing you again, Lin,” he said, as if it was a promise.
And then, before she could react, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the trees. It was like he’d never even been there.
Lin stood there for a few seconds, frozen in place, her heart racing. What the hell had just happened? Who was that guy? And why did he know her name? More importantly, why had he come here?
“Lin?” Her uncle’s voice came from behind her, calm as ever. “Everything okay?”
She turned around quickly, trying to hide the shock on her face. Her uncle was walking towards her, that same serene look on his face. She wanted to ask him everything what did the guy want? Was he a threat? Why had he said her name?
But before she could speak, her uncle raised a hand, cutting her off.
“Don’t ask,” he said quietly. “Not yet.”
Lin’s mouth went dry. There was something in his voice that made her stop. He’d never told her not to ask before. It made her even more uneasy.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Who was that?”
Her uncle sighed and put a hand on her shoulder, his eyes softening. “I wish I could explain everything, Lin. But not now. There’s still so much you don’t know.” He looked over his shoulder toward where the man had disappeared. “And you’re not ready.”
Lin stared at him, frustrated. “Then when will I be ready?!” she demanded. “I’ve been training for years, and you still won’t tell me anything! I need to know what’s going on!”
Her uncle didn’t flinch. “I know you think you’re ready. But you’re not. Trust me, Lin. I’m protecting you from the truth for now.”
She didn’t know what to say to that. Her uncle had always been so calm, so sure. But the way he said it, like there was something bigger coming something that she wasn’t ready for. It scared her more than she wanted to admit.
“I’m not a kid anymore,” Lin muttered, lowering her gaze. “I can handle it.”
“I know you can,” her uncle said, his voice softening, but there was still a trace of something serious in his eyes. “But you don’t know everything. Not yet. When the time comes, you’ll understand. But not before.”
Lin clenched her fists, feeling the frustration building in her chest. But there was nothing she could do. Her uncle had made it clear that this wasn’t something she could rush.
“Just… be careful,” he added, his voice barely audible. “And don’t trust anyone you don’t know. Not yet.”
Lin nodded slowly, though she didn’t feel reassured. She wasn’t sure if she trusted anyone anymore.
With that, her uncle turned and headed back to the cabin. Lin stood there for a moment longer, looking out toward the trees where the stranger had vanished. She didn’t know what this all meant, but she was sure of one thing: her life was about to change, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it.
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