As Lex quietly gathered his belongings, ready to slip out of the house to continue his secret investigation into the mysterious chain, his mother Naomi entered the room, her face pale and eyes wide with shock.
"Lex," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "your grandmother... she's dead."
The words hit Lex like a heavy weight. For a moment, he stood frozen, unsure of how to respond. His grandmother had always been a formidable presence, a strong-willed woman who had helped shape the Sasa clan. To think she was now gone felt surreal.
Naomi wiped her eyes and continued, her voice steadier now, though still tinged with sadness. "We're going to the hospital right away. Get ready."
Lex nodded, his plans to sneak out now forgotten. "Yes, okay, Mom," he replied softly, the weight of the news sinking in.
As Naomi gathered her things and hurried out to prepare, Lex stood for a moment, reflecting on the sudden change in his reality. His mind, once so focused on uncovering the secrets of the chain, now wrestled with the grief and uncertainty that came with the loss of a family member.
Meanwhile, across the village, Pyro and Ashura were in the midst of the clan meeting when the news arrived. One of the messengers burst into the grand hall, his expression grave as he approached the brothers.
"Lord Pyro... Ashura... I bring terrible news," the messenger said, his voice low. "Your mother... she has passed."
The words cut through the air like a blade. Pyro and Ashura exchanged a glance, the shock written plainly on their faces. For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still as they processed the news. Their mother, the matriarch of their family, had been the foundation of their lives. Now she was gone.
Without a word, Pyro stood abruptly, his face drained of color, and Ashura quickly followed. The meeting came to a halt as the clan members watched in silence, understanding the gravity of the situation. The brothers didn't wait to explain—they turned and ran, leaving the hall in the middle of the meeting, their only focus now on reaching the hospital.
They sprinted through the village, hearts pounding and minds racing. The thought of losing their mother had never truly crossed their minds, and now they were confronted with the harsh reality. All their power and strength felt insignificant in the face of this personal tragedy.
As they neared the hospital, Pyro's thoughts flashed to his family—Naomi, Lex—and how this loss would ripple through them all. And though he had always prided himself on his ability to control his emotions, in this moment, the sorrow and panic were overwhelming.
Ashura, too, felt the weight of grief, but in his own way. He had always looked to their mother for guidance, even as he took on more responsibilities within the clan. Now, she was gone, and the void left behind felt immeasurable.
Together, the two brothers rushed through the hospital doors, desperate for answers, even as they knew none could undo what had happened.
As Pyro and Ashura entered the hospital, the air was thick with a somber stillness. The sight of their mother's lifeless body lying on the bed sent a chill through their veins. Pyro's heart sank as he knelt beside her, taking her hand in his. Tears welled up in his eyes, and the grief hit him all at once.
Ashura, standing beside his brother, stared at their mother's face, but something felt off—terribly off. His sharp eyes scanned the body, and a deep frown creased his brow.
"This... this is not a natural death," Ashura muttered, his voice low but filled with certainty.
Pyro looked up, confused. "What do you mean, Ashura?"
Ashura leaned closer, inspecting their mother's form with an intensity that betrayed his growing suspicion. "I can feel it, Pyro. Her body... it has no soul left. Someone has taken it." His voice trembled slightly, not with fear, but with barely restrained anger. "This isn't just death. Someone killed our mother. Someone powerful enough to extract her very soul."
Pyro recoiled in shock, his hand trembling as he pulled it back from their mother's cold form. His eyes locked onto Ashura's. "No... no way. Who would dare—who would have the guts to kill a member of the Sasa clan?" Pyro's voice wavered between disbelief and fury. "Our clan is feared throughout the lands. This can't be possible."
Ashura's eyes darkened, his jaw clenched tightly. "There's more to this than we know, brother. Whoever did this didn't just want her dead—they wanted her soul for a reason. This is dark magic. Powerful and dangerous." His fists tightened as the rage inside him began to boil over. "And if someone's willing to go this far, they might come for the rest of us."
Pyro stood up, his sorrow now replaced by a burning resolve. "We'll find who did this, Ashura. Whoever they are, they'll regret the day they crossed the Sasa clan. I swear it."
Ashura nodded, his face hardened with the same determination. But as they both stood there, staring down at their mother's lifeless body, one thought plagued their minds: Who could wield such power, and what was their true goal in attacking the Sasa clan?