Scene 1: Beneath the Starlit Silence
The Divine Village had fallen into its nightly hush. Soft lantern lights flickered in distant doorways, fireflies glowed in lazy patterns, and the cool wind carried the scent of sweet mountain herbs. Outside the inn, beneath the stretch of a velvet sky sprinkled with stars, the group had gathered — not for battle, not for planning, but simply to exist.
Saanvi sat with her back resting against a tree, her eyes calm as they traced constellations she hadn't looked at in lifetimes.
Xie Lian had curled into himself at the edge of the circle, silently plucking petals from a wild daisy, while trying his best not to glance at Wei Zhan.
Vihaan lay on his back, one arm folded under his head, the other tossing a pebble into the air and catching it lazily. "Finally," he said, "a night without drama, demons, or Devran almost blowing something up."
Devran scoffed. "I've never blown anything up accidentally."
Tianlan raised a brow. "Oh? And what about the Moonfire Caverns?"
"That doesn't count. That was a calculated risk." Devran crossed his arms and pouted. "Besides, I almost had it under control."
"Almost," Riku snorted, popping a small red berry into his mouth. "Your 'almost' gave me a second-degree burn."
Everyone chuckled.
Wei Zhan sat with one knee up, nursing a warm cup of rice wine, unusually silent but oddly peaceful. He watched the others with a faint, unreadable smile—one that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Riku leaned toward him. "What's with the face, royal highness? Don't tell me you're actually enjoying being surrounded by weirdos."
"I'm not surrounded by weirdos," Wei Zhan said, dry as ever. "Just emotionally unstable children who mistake sarcasm for flirting."
Xie Lian visibly twitched.
"Is that a dig at me?" he muttered, not looking up.
Wei Zhan sipped his wine. "If the shoe fits."
Xie Lian picked up a pebble and lobbed it, but it missed and bounced harmlessly off Devran's shoulder.
"Hey!" Devran yelped.
"Sorry," Xie Lian deadpanned. "Wrong target."
Saanvi covered her mouth, laughing softly. "You guys never stop, do you?"
Riku leaned back, staring at the night sky. "Honestly? Nights like this are rare. Kind of wish we could just stay here."
Tianlan sighed, his eyes reflecting the stars. "I don't remember the last time we all just... sat together like this. No weapons. No masks."
Vihaan smiled faintly. "Maybe this village is a reminder. That the world isn't always chaos. That we still deserve quiet moments."
For a brief second, no one spoke. They just sat—watching the stars, sharing the silence.
A breeze swept past, rustling the leaves like a lullaby.
Then Xie Lian broke the silence. "Do you think... we'll ever have normal lives again?"
Devran leaned back on his hands. "Define normal. If you mean sleeping in and not having to fight undead beasts every other week—then yeah, sign me up."
Wei Zhan glanced sideways at Xie Lian, then quickly looked away. "We're not made for normal."
"That's sad," Riku whispered. "But maybe true."
Saanvi, ever the anchor, softly added, "Even if we're not made for it, that doesn't mean we can't seek it. Even warriors need rest. Even immortals need warmth."
Xie Lian looked at her, a little softer now.
Vihaan threw a pebble straight up and caught it again. "So... if we weren't warriors, who would we be?"
"I'd be a wandering musician," Riku said immediately. "Breaking hearts with every verse."
"You already do that," Devran muttered.
"I'd run a tea house," Saanvi said wistfully. "Somewhere peaceful. Surrounded by flowers."
Xie Lian blinked. "I'd... probably be a painter. Or a poet. Something where I could just feel and not be judged for it."
Everyone looked at Wei Zhan.
He raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Your turn," Riku said.
Wei Zhan sighed. "I'd... maybe run a bookstore. Or a forge. I don't know."
Xie Lian smiled. "A forge?"
Wei Zhan smirked. "Why not? I like fire."
"Explains your personality," Devran muttered.
Laughter broke again. It wasn't loud. It wasn't wild. But it was honest.
And in the stillness of that starlit night, for the first time in days, hearts that had been heavy with pain felt just a little lighter.
Even Xie Lian, who still carried a storm inside him, allowed himself a rare, genuine smile.
Vihaan looked around at them all, eyes soft.
"We're still broken," he said. "Still lost."
"But right now," Saanvi whispered, "we're together."
And for a while longer, they stayed that way.
Watching the stars. Listening to the wind.
And daring—if only for a moment—to believe in peace.
---
Scene 2: Secrets Beneath the Stars
As their laughter faded into thoughtful silence, Devran leaned forward and spoke. "Alright, enough of playing pretend. What's so special about this village anyway? We came here out of nowhere, and we've just... stayed."
Just then, a new voice floated toward them, soft yet firm. "Do you truly wish to know?"
Everyone turned.
An old man was sitting on the stone steps of the inn, his figure bathed in moonlight. He looked frail, with long white hair tied loosely behind his back and eyes as old as the stars.
Saanvi stood. "Who are you?"
The man smiled gently. "Just the owner of this inn."
Devran approached slowly. "If you're the owner, then maybe you can answer something for us. What's the story behind this village?"
The old man gestured. "Come. Sit. I'll tell you what I know."
They all gathered around him, settling onto cushions and steps like curious children before a fire.
Tianlan asked politely, "May I ask, sir... who created this village?"
The old man's eyes twinkled. "This village was founded over 6,000 years ago, by a divine cultivator."
Saanvi's voice was low. "Who was this cultivator?"
"I never saw his face," the old man said. "Few did. But he built this village with his own hands. Helped the wounded. Fed the lost. And eventually, he took in a thousand students. Trained them. Raised them. Gave them a new purpose."
Devran's hands tightened slightly. "You said he took students?"
"Yes," the old man replied. "He created a school at the top of that mountain you see to the east. A divine school where cultivators could train in peace. It was his gift to the world before he left to walk it once more. People called him... the Divine Master."
Silence fell.
Then, all heads turned to Devran.
"Divine Master..." Xie Lian whispered.
"That's who we've been looking for," Vihaan breathed.
Riku blinked. "You mean... he was here?"
Devran's heart was thundering in his chest. "Are you saying... the Divine Master we've been chasing... founded this village?"
The old man nodded slowly. "That is what the legends say."
Emotions rippled through the group—shock, awe, disbelief.
Saanvi stepped forward. "Where is this school now?"
"Still there," the innkeeper said. "At the top of the Divine Peak. Not far. You'll see a narrow path from the east gate. It climbs through the forest. Takes a few hours, but it is safe."
Devran stood, his voice shaky. "We have to go. First thing tomorrow."
Everyone nodded, the air around them suddenly charged with purpose.
The innkeeper smiled, his gaze turning toward the stars. "Then rest well, young ones. The path you walk is not easy. But it is worthy."
They bowed respectfully, then began to disperse for the night.
As they walked back inside, Vihaan touched Devran's shoulder gently. "Are you okay?"
Devran didn't answer immediately. His gaze was fixed on the eastern mountain.
Finally, he whispered, "He was here... He walked this land. He taught here... We're not chasing a myth anymore."
And in his chest, for the first time in years, hope bloomed.