Wei sat at the edge of his bed, staring down at the sword his grandfather had left behind. His fingers brushed lightly over the blade's edge, and the memories of the night's battle in the Forgotten Groove still pulsed through his mind. The weight of the fight, of what they had narrowly escaped, hung over him like a shroud.
Next to him, Mei Lan sat quietly. She hadn't signed a word since they returned to the pawnshop. Even without her voice, Wei could sense the lingering fear that haunted her just as much as it did him.
"We're not ready," Wei muttered aloud, more to himself than anyone else.
Mei Lan reached out and touched his hand, her grip firm but gentle. When he met her eyes, she began signing slowly, We don't have a choice. We can't stop now.
"I know," he replied, watching her fingers carefully. "But the Forgotten Groove—it was like something was waiting for us. It knew we were coming."
