Shin stepped forward, until he stood at a clear distance from the sect's gate. Then he stopped, and slowly turned toward faiser. This time, his features were not cautious as they had been in the forest… rather, they carried something different—something closer to a quiet confidence that needed no proof.
He raised his hand slightly, gesturing to what lay behind him, then said in a steady voice that carried the weight of the place:
"Welcome… to the Celestial Phoenix Sect."
faiser's eyes widened for a fraction of a second.
Genuine surprise… but it did not last.
It vanished as it appeared.
And in its place came a faint smile, barely visible.
And within him—
"The Celestial Phoenix Sect, huh!!"
He paused for a moment.
Then—
"One thing after another… this world does not stop presenting what stirs my curiosity."
His smile widened slightly.
"And I think… I'm starting to enjoy it."
"faiser?"
Shin's voice came, cutting through his thoughts.
faiser raised his gaze to him.
Shin said, in a tone closer to a formal welcome this time:
"You are now… our guest."
He paused for a moment.
Then added, fixing his gaze on him:
"Or more precisely… you are a guest of the Celestial Phoenix Sect."
faiser smiled calmly, and bowed his head slightly, in a gesture that carried respect… without being submission.
"Thank you for your generosity, Shin…"
He paused.
Then added, in the same calm tone:
"Or… thank you for your generosity, Celestial Phoenix Sect."
A brief silence.
Then—
Both of them burst out laughing.
A laugh that was not only loud… but genuine, if only for a moment.
In a nearby corner…
Shirin was smiling.
Quietly.
As if this simple scene had returned something she had lost moments ago.
Then Shin said, as he turned toward her, in a light tone that carried clear warmth:
"So then… Your Highness…"
He paused, as if remembering something.
Then he smiled:
"Oh, right… we're not outside anymore."
He stepped closer to her, and added in a lighter tone:
"Shirin… I think you've missed home, haven't you?"
Shirin stopped.
She looked at the gate.
Then at what lay beyond it.
Then—
She smiled.
It was not a small smile.
But it was full.
And her eyes filled with tears.
"Ah…"
She breathed slowly.
"Welcome back…"
Then she said in a soft voice:
"I've missed… home."
On the other side—
faiser was watching.
Calmly.
Without expression.
His eyes fixed on that scene.
"…"
"What is this?"
"Do they think… that these moments… will last?"
He paused.
Then—
"How ridiculous, this kind of attachment."
But—
He smiled.
A warm smile.
Fake.
At the right moment.
"It wouldn't be wise… to break a scene like this."
Shin moved toward the gate.
He placed his hand on it.
And in the next moment—
The doors began to open slowly.
The deep sound of wood echoed, as if the place itself was welcoming… or testing those who entered.
And as they opened—
The inside was revealed.
A wide courtyard.
A carefully paved ground.
And groups of disciples…
Training.
Swords clashing.
Measured movements.
Interrupted breaths.
But organized.
faiser looked.
With focus.
Then said calmly:
"So… these are the sect's soldiers."
Shin smiled lightly and shook his head:
"No… they're not soldiers."
He paused.
Then added:
"These… are merely disciples."
He looked at them, then continued:
"They are divided into ranks… different levels. Each of them strives to rise, to become stronger, to get closer to the peak, or at least… to remain standing."
He fell silent for a moment.
Then said:
"Here… strength is not a choice."
"It is a requirement."
faiser hummed lightly:
"Ah… I see."
Then he said:
"A simple system… but effective."
He paused.
Then began:
"But—"
He stopped.
He did not finish.
Shin turned to him:
"But…?"
Silence.
faiser did not answer.
"A question… not good to ask right now."
And before that door could open—
A man appeared.
From the front.
Middle-aged.
His steps were steady.
And his presence…
Clear.
He walked directly toward Shin.
Then—
He knelt on one knee.
"Welcome back safely… Prince Shin."
Silence.
Then he raised his gaze toward Shirin:
"And we have missed you as well… Miss Shirin."
Shirin suddenly smiled.
Then—
She ran toward him.
And threw herself into his arms.
"I've missed you too… Uncle!"
The man held her gently, and smiled.
And at the side—
faiser watched.
Once again.
"The same scene…"
"The same bonds…"
"The same attachment…"
He paused.
"How… boring."
But—
He did not show it.
Ever.
Shin said:
"faiser… this is my uncle."
Then he added:
"And he is one of the pillars of the sect."
Then he turned to his uncle:
"Uncle… this is faiser. He is the one who saved Shirin's life from the men of the Red Bear Sect."
The man's eyes widened.
Then he immediately stood up.
And bowed respectfully:
"Thank you… Sir faiser. Saving my niece's life… is a debt that will never be forgotten, no matter what is said."
faiser smiled, and returned the gesture with the same calmness:
"There's no need for all that… what happened was nothing more than coincidence, and I simply… happened to be in the right place."
Silence.
Then—
Shirin suddenly said:
"Uncle…"
She looked around.
"Where is my father?"
The man's expression changed slightly.
He lowered his gaze.
Then said:
"Your father… has entered seclusion."
Silence.
Then he added:
"To complete his training… on his vessel."
faiser paused.
"Vessel…?"
The idea was registered.
Deeply.
"A strange term… and I suppose it is important!"
He raised his head slightly.
Then—
He stepped forward.
And said calmly, though he did not hide his curiosity:
"So, Shin…"
He paused for a moment.
Then continued:
"From what I understand now… your father… is the leader of this sect, isn't he?"
Silence spread.
This time—
Heavier.
Shin did not answer immediately.
Instead, he looked at him.
A different look.
Not just cautious…
But—
Evaluating.
As for his uncle…
He simply watched.
And Shirin…
Stopped smiling.
For a moment.
Then—
Shin said slowly:
"Yes."
He paused.
Then added:
"He is."
Silence.
But—
It did not end.
Because the uncle then said, in a deeper voice:
"But…"
He looked directly at faiser.
"Entering this sect… does not only mean you have become a guest."
He paused.
Then continued:
"It means… you have entered a place…"
Silence.
A moment.
Then—
"From which people… do not leave as they entered."
Stillness.
A faint freeze in the air.
As for faiser…
He smiled.
Slowly.
A smile that carried no surprise.
But—
Something else.
And he said to himself:
"Good…"
"This is exactly… what I was looking for."
Then he raised his eyes.
And looked at them.
And said calmly:
"This… makes things more interesting."
And in that moment…
No one knew—
That his presence there…
Was not mere coincidence.
Nor just a beginning.
But—
A mistake.
A mistake… that had already begun to take shape within the Celestial Phoenix Sect…