Chapter 25: Poison, Pranks, and Paranoia
The morning was quiet. Birds chirped somewhere far away, and the cool wind blew softly across the trees outside the cave.
Ling Huai sat near the cave entrance, thinking deeply. Her head still felt a little heavy, and her body felt different. Stronger. Lighter. And… strange.
Bai was sitting nearby, reading a scroll and munching on dried fruit. Omen stood quietly with his arms crossed, leaning against the cave wall. He was always so serious. Tu Tu, floating in the air, was upside down as usual, eating some peaches and being nosy.
Suddenly, Ling Huai blinked. Her eyes widened.
"I remember something…"
Everyone looked up at her.
"What is it?" Bai asked quickly.
"When I was unconscious… during the bond ritual… something happened to me," she said slowly. "I wasn't just dreaming. My whole body started glowing. There were… strange marks. Symbols. Runes, glowing all over me. They appeared during the transformation."
Tu Tu floated closer, curious. "Runes? That sounds big. Did they hurt?"
Ling Huai shook her head. "No. But they were so bright… they felt powerful. Like they were waking up something inside me."
Omen finally spoke. "Then we need to see them. If you've changed, we must know what kind of power you hold now."
Ling Huai stood up. "Okay. But don't freak out."
She took a deep breath and slowly pulled off her outer robe.
Bai screamed and quickly covered his face with the scroll. "HUAI!! There are boys here!"
Tu Tu gasped and turned around fast. "MY INNOCENT EYES!!"
Omen didn't move, but his eyebrows twitched slightly. "You could've warned us."
Ling Huai rolled her eyes. "I'm still wearing clothes, idiots. I just took off the robe!"
They peeked and realized she was wearing tight dark armor under the robe—a full-body outfit that fit like a second skin. She wasn't naked at all.
Still, Tu Tu blushed. "Could've still warned me…"
But then they saw the runes.
Glowing blue and gold symbols spread across her skin like tattoos. They shimmered softly. The marks were written on her arms, shoulders, legs, and even across her back. Some of the symbols floated just above her skin, like tiny stars dancing.
Everyone went silent.
"They're real…" Bai whispered.
"They came out during my transformation," Ling Huai said. "They don't hurt… but they feel ancient. Like they belong to someone older than time."
Tu Tu floated closer, jaw dropped. "They're so beautiful... but also kinda scary."
Ling Huai looked down at her hands, flexing her fingers. "What do they mean…?"
Then, without thinking, she touched her hair.
It felt different—silky, long, and full of volume.
She gasped. "My hair!"
She grabbed a small piece and pulled it forward. It was glowing slightly at the tips, flowing like it had magic of its own.
Then she ran her finger across her teeth—and paused.
She blinked… then touched her teeth again.
"…Guys?"
She slowly turned and gave them a wide, bright smile.
Bai screamed, dropping her scroll. "AHHHHH—WHAT IS THAT?!"
Tu Tu's eyes widened. "Why are your teeth like that?!"
Her teeth were sharp. Not ugly—but not normal. Her canines were longer, sharper. Still white and clean—but definitely not human.
Ling Huai laughed. "They changed too! My teeth are so sharp… I look like a beast!"
Omen raised an eyebrow. "You look like something that bites."
Tu Tu looked her up and down… then smirked.
"…Honestly, you look hot."
Bai groaned. "You need holy water, Tu Tu. She has monster teeth."
Tu Tu floated backwards, still grinning. "Still hot."
Ling Huai laughed and playfully pushed him. "Creep!"
Later – Heading to the Poison Forest
Everyone packed up and started walking toward the Poison Forest. The air was warm but heavy with mist. Trees were tall and colorful, with strange leaves and vines that glowed softly.
Tu Tu was already flying in circles. "This forest smells like fart and candy."
Bai checked a map. "We need to be careful. This place is full of traps."
Omen walked in front with his sword ready. "Stick together."
They hadn't gone far when Tu Tu saw a glowing fruit hanging from a vine.
"Oooh… shiny…" he whispered.
He zoomed forward and took a big bite before anyone could stop him.
Bai turned and yelled, "TU TU—NOOOO!"
POOF.
He vanished.
Ling Huai blinked. "Where'd he go?!"
"I'm right here!" Tu Tu's voice echoed around them.
They looked around—but saw no one.
"Tu Tu?" Bai said.
"I SAID I'M RIGHT HERE!!" he shouted.
They all froze.
Ling Huai gasped. "Wait… is he… invisible?!"
"Yes!! I CAN'T SEE MY OWN TAIL!!" he cried.
Omen closed his eyes. "Great. An invisible flying rabbit who can't stop talking."
Tu Tu groaned. "I'm scared. I don't even know if I'm wearing pants."
Ling Huai laughed so hard she almost fell over.
*******
The Chimera Attack
As they went deeper, the trees started to move. The ground shook. A loud growl came from the mist.
Then a huge, ugly beast stepped out—a mix of lion, snake, and scorpion. Its eyes glowed red.
It was a Poison Chimera.
It roared and ran straight at them.
Omen rushed forward with his blade. Bai threw talismans. Ling Huai pulled out her poison whip, but the creature didn't even slow down.
"It's absorbing poison!" she shouted.
"Try your runes!" Bai yelled.
Ling Huai focused. Her body began to glow again—the runes lit up, brighter and brighter—but the power was so strong, it burned.
She winced. "I can't hold it!"
Just then—
ACHOO!!
Tu Tu sneezed from above.
The Chimera paused.
"Did… something just sneeze on me?" Bai said.
Another ACHOO!
The Chimera looked around, confused.
Then it stepped on a glowing mushroom patch.
BOOM!!
The ground exploded under its feet, and the beast flew backward, crashing into a tree and falling unconscious.
Silence.
Omen blinked. "What just happened?"
Tu Tu (still invisible): "That was me. I sneezed. And it worked."
Ling Huai laughed. "You saved us… with your nose?!"
Tu Tu sniffled. "I have deadly sneezes."
Bai rolled her eyes. "Someone hand me a rock. I want to throw it at him."
Later That Night
After escaping the forest, they camped near a waterfall.
Ling Huai stared at her reflection in the water—at her new hair, her new eyes, her strange runes. She touched her sharp teeth and smiled again.
She looked different now… but she didn't feel scared anymore.
She felt strong.
She turned to look at her team—Tu Tu flying in circles, Bai fixing her scroll, and Omen sharpening his blade quietly.
Ling Huai smiled softly.
For the first time in her life… she felt like she belonged.