A Divine Thread Between Us
The Day the Sky Cracked
Lotus Kingdom, Spring Festival – Years Ago]
The evening sky blushed gold and pink as lanterns floated gently above the lake, drifting like fallen stars. Perfume from plum blossoms mixed with the hum of celebration: dancers, music, and the gentle splashing of lotus lanterns lighting the sacred waters.
In the middle of it all was Liáng Yǔhán, barefoot, laughing, dragging his royal outer robe as he ran up the stone steps.
Young Liáng Yǔhán
Hwan! Hurry! You’ll miss the lotus lighting!
Seo Hwan, dressed in flowing silver robes, followed calmly behind, hands clasped neatly.
Young Seo Hwan
Running is for mortals. I’ll catch up.
Young Liáng Yǔhán
Dignity won’t help you when the best mooncakes are gone.
Young Seo Hwan
That’s why I have you. You bring me sweets. I bring you common sense.
They arrived at the ceremonial bridge, standing side by side under the shower of lantern light. Around them, nobles whispered—surprised to see a Divine Dragon from the upper realm so at ease beside a phoenix-blooded heir from the Lotus Kingdom.
Young Liáng Yǔhán
(softly)
Young Liáng Yǔhán
Do you think... in the Divine Heavens, there’s a sky like this?
Young Seo Hwan
(after a beat)
Young Seo Hwan
Not one I’d care to look at without you.
Yǔhán’s laughter cracked the silence like firelight.
Hours Later | Lotus Palace – Relic Hall]
The serenity shattered. Smoke. Screams. Blazing spells. Guards rushed the sacred hall.
A divine relic—the Lotus Heart—was gone.
Yǔhán stumbled into the corridor, confused and afraid. Then—hands grabbed him.
???
The Phoenix boy was last near the chamber!
Young Liáng Yǔhán
(struggling)
Young Liáng Yǔhán
What?! No! I didn’t—!
From behind the columns, Seo Hwan appeared, frozen. His eyes flickered with uncertainty as the guards dragged Yǔhán away.
Young Liáng Yǔhán
(desperate)
Young Liáng Yǔhán
Hwan! Tell them! I didn’t—!
Young Seo Hwan
(voice low)
Before he could act, the sky above them cracked.
A great fissure opened in the heavens—glowing white, spiraling like a wound in the world.
From it poured celestial energy, so intense that everyone fell to their knees. The Divine Court called it the first omen in a thousand years.
Weeks Later | Divine Heavens Tribunal]
A boy in silver robes knelt before the council of gods. His name, his fate, and his memories—under scrutiny.
Celestial Sage
To serve the Heavens, the past must be purged.
A divine seal burned across Seo Hwan’s wrist—The Seal of Forgetting.
The name of his phoenix friend was removed from his mind.
And still, every time he closed his eyes, he saw fire. And heard laughter echoing from the edge of a cracked sky.
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