The forest swayed gently with the night breeze, the rustling leaves murmuring a lullaby of peace that starkly contrasted with the bloodshed of the past. Moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled silver on Lyon and the White Snake, who rested on his lap like a reminder of the warmth he once knew.
"Tell me, my son," the White Snake whispered, her voice soft, yet burdened by unspoken grief. "Do you still seek vengeance?"
Lyon's crimson irises flickered with resolve. "It's not just vengeance, mother," he replied, his tone unwavering. "I chose peace once... and I lost my son. This time, in my reckoning, I choose destruction."
The White Snake exhaled slowly, her expression tinged with sadness. "It pains me to hear you say this. But I cannot pretend to be surprised... I didn't teach you love, after all. I taught you how to pick locks, steal in silence, and kill—only to survive."
