Chapter 7: Her Name, Her Secret

The golden sunrise poured over the ruins of the Sacred Bloom Grove.

Arjun lay beside the girl, his breath heavy, body aching. His half-human form flickered between eagle and man, unstable.

But he didn’t care.

The girl was safe. The danger was over — for now.

Slowly, she sat up, her delicate fingers clutching the jade pendant at her throat. Her wide, clear eyes gazed at Arjun, full of wonder and something deeper.

Gratitude.

"Thank you..." she whispered.

Her voice was like the first note of a spring song — soft, trembling, beautiful.

Arjun, still half-beast, struggled to form words.

"You... okay?" he managed.

The girl nodded.

"My name is Mei Ling."

"And you... who are you?"

Arjun paused.

In this new form, memories flickered inside him — flashes of another life, another name.

But the name that surfaced was the one carved into his soul now:

"Arjun."

The girl smiled.

The old healer, finally recovered, limped toward them.

"Arjun... Mei Ling... Fate has truly woven your paths together."

---

The Secret of Mei Ling

As the healer tended to Arjun’s battered body, Mei Ling stared at her own hands.

They glowed faintly — tiny wisps of golden and green light spiraling around her fingers.

Fear and awe filled her heart.

"I feel... different," she said, voice trembling. "What happened to me?"

The old healer looked grave.

He pointed at the jade pendant she wore.

"This... is the Heart of Verdant Spring — one of the nine Divine Relics of the ancient world."

Mei Ling gasped.

Even Arjun’s unstable heart beat faster.

Divine Relics were legends — objects said to hold the power to create life... or destroy it.

The healer continued:

"You were not just an ordinary girl. You are the chosen vessel of the Heart."

"It has healed your body... but it has also awakened your bloodline."

Mei Ling clutched the pendant tighter.

"Bloodline...? What does that mean?"

The healer’s voice grew low, heavy:

"You are the last descendant of the Verdant Sovereign Clan — rulers of life and spirit energy."

"And now... every enemy of the ancient world will come for you."

Silence.

The weight of destiny crashed onto Mei Ling’s small shoulders.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she bit her lip and nodded.

Arjun watched her.

Admired her.

She was fragile, yet unyielding — like a flower growing through stone.

And for reasons he didn’t fully understand, he made a silent vow.

He would protect her.

No matter who came.

No matter what price he had to pay.

---

New Threats Emerge

Far beyond the forest, across mountains and ruined cities...

A figure sat atop a black dragon, overlooking the world.

His armor was made of beast bones. His eyes burned with crimson fire.

He crushed a communication crystal in his fist.

"The Heart of Verdant Spring... has awakened?"

Behind him, an army of spirit beasts roared.

Another figure, cloaked in blue robes, knelt behind him.

"Lord Zorath, should we move?"

"Move?" Zorath grinned, a savage, bloodthirsty smile.

"We march.
We hunt.
We kill."

Thousands of spirit beasts howled into the sky, shaking the heavens.

---

At the same time, deep in the hidden sects of the human cultivators, bells tolled.

In the Holy Lotus Sect, golden-armored warriors gathered.

"The vessel must be captured."

In the Iron Blood Palace, cruel elders sharpened their weapons.

"The Heart must be stolen — at any cost."

All forces — human and beast alike — now raced toward one place:

Sacred Bloom Grove.

Toward Arjun. Toward Mei Ling.

The storm was coming.

And Arjun, barely stabilizing his new form, would have to stand against it.

---

The Bond

That night, under the stars, Arjun sat near the campfire.

Mei Ling sat across from him, humming a soft melody. Her presence soothed the chaos…

(End of Chapter 7)