Standing at the edge of the Heavenly Forest, Chen glanced at the sky in apprehension. Inch by inch, the sun was rising above the horizon, spreading threads of rosy hue across the morning sky. A faint unearthly green–gold luminescence was cast over the village of Tang.

The mourning sun.

It wasn't the sun that made him anxious, but what it stood for. The time of resurgence. The period when great dangers would emerge from their hiding places, and in every corner, evil would lurk. But of most importance, it was the time of the fallen gods. A dangerous period. And he was about to enter the place where the shrine of Changxi was. The fallen moon goddess of Tang.

Chen gathered his thoughts and focused on the Forest Of Heavens which extended for miles before him. The sacred place housing the last spark of Changxi whose shrine was located at the centre of the small forest. Their local goddess might be one of the first deities to fall in the great war, but all the villagers knew of the might of her fading essence on earth. Especially, around her shrine.

But first for Chen was the elemental guardian. Or to be more accurate, the remnant of the guardian. The protector of the last spark of their local goddess. Chen was already familiar with the powers of the deadly remnants. No matter how careful he was, his life depended on the nature of the guardian. Almost in the same way the Changxi's priests and acolytes did before entering the sacred forest, Chen recited the heralded prayers of Changxi. Only he wasn't a priest, but he knew he had no choice.

With a determined heart and a grimmer face, he entered the forest. Upon entry, he saw fingers of the green-gold light of the morning sun seeped through the thin canopies of the trees. They created an eerie feeling that juddered Chen. The sparsely layered ancient trees appeared timeless as they disappeared into the sky. Some wreathed in ivy, ever frozen in its embrace, whilst others were still bare with roots dipping into and out of the ground, basking in the lights of impending dawn.

The last time he was in this forest, he hadn't noticed them. But he understood the conditions of his entrance then.

He rubbed his bleary eyes. His eyes were heavy, but he forced them open. The lack of sleep was slowly getting to him, but he knew he couldn't allow it. He had to find the Moonblood plant. The sooner the better. For the sake of his father. His health was deteriorating at an alarming rate before he left the house. Now, after entering the sacred forest, he was afraid of what would happen if he delayed in finding the plant. Mindless of him not finding it at all. The sacred plant he had never seen before, but was told had a unique appearance.

But won't I be dead before reaching the shrine of the goddess? There's no other way. If my father dies, I'll be dead too. The villagers are only giving face to my father.

As Chen went deeper into the forest, his legs became heavier to carry. His tired body began to loose its strength. Not able to go any further, he sat down and rested his back on a giant tree. Before he knew it, he had closed his eyes and fell asleep. All of a sudden, he felt himself floating and opened his eyes in a flash. Or so he thought. He found himself in a vast space of darkness. There was a strangeness and a familiarity about the place. Yet he couldn't place his hand on it. Could it be death? Was he dead? As he began to panic, he heard a deep voice.

"You forgot, didn't you?"

"Who's there?" Chen asked, turning from one direction to another.

All he could see was total darkness. Forgot? What did he forget? He tried to make sense of what he might have forgotten but couldn't. Yet there was a sense of knowing at the back of his mind. He could feel it there but couldn't really place his hands on it.

"Yea, you've forgotten. But never mind, you'll remember soon enough. It's because of your un-awakened soul. Although that's not why you're here, was it? You came for the Moonblood plant."

"Ah," Chen gasped in shock.

How did this person know about my father's condition? As far as he was aware, nobody in their village had the ability and levels needed to read other people's minds. At once, he realized he was in the presence of a greater power than any he had seen before. With a flash of recent memory, he realized he was in the Heavenly Forest. If he was in the presence of someone with extreme powers inside the Forest Of Heaven, that could only mean... Chen fell on his knees and bowed his head deeply.

Remembering the litany his father had taught him, he began to recite the words, "In the presence of my goddess I bow. May her shining light flare brighter in the honour of her glory."

"Yes, even in eternal rest. But I'm not the goddess, Chen. Mortal minds," the voice let out an audible sigh.

Hm? Not my goddess? Chen asked himself in confusion. As he dug deeper into his memories, he had another flash that made him tremble. The remnant of the elemental guardian of his goddess! Chen knew that for him to meet the protector under a mourning sun and still be alive, the heaven was smiling on him. Now, he might have a chance to survive the sacred forest.

Chen stood up and gave the guardian a bow, "May your soul be eternally blessed, guardian of our goddess."

"And your soul be favoured too, Chen," the guardian replied. There was a moment of silence before the remnant continued, "I know you're here because of your dying father."

"Yes, blessed guardian.'

"I'll give you what you seek, Chen. But first, your goddess needs you."

"Me?" Chen asked aloud in surprise.

In a shocking way to him, this was so funny that he nearly choked on his own words. How could the goddess need a worthless person like himself? He asked his own consciousness in confusion. There was nothing he could probably offer his deity. Not even his life was of any value. If he didn't know any better, he would have said the guardian was making a mockery of him. He was brought out of his raging thoughts by the voice of the remnant.

"Yes, Chen, you. Will you serve your goddess?"

"Yes, I will, blessed guardian," Chen replied right away. If the goddess thought of him as being useful, then he would be more than happy to oblige. It would be an everlasting honour for him to serve Changxi. Even in death. At least, serving his goddess would be the best meaningful way to expend his worthless life.

"Are you willing to carry the burden of your goddess?" The guardian asked him again.

"Yes, I'm willing, blessed guardian," Chen replied without delay.

After his words were out, there was a low chiming sound that resonated with Chen's heart. Despite knowing the burden of a goddess would certainly kill him, he was prepared to give it his best. Whatever it was. Even the thought of it could make a lunatic of a grown man. Yet the burden of their goddess was far better to carry than his own.

"Under this mourning sun and in the presence of the fallen gods, I call on the heavens to bear witness to this day. An utterance you've made, Chen, and a seal you'll receive," The guardian said before continuing, "When you wake up from this dream, there'll be a path before you. Follow it and you'll see what you're after. But don't wander too close to her sacred altar. You'll simply die. When you become awakened, you'll see a glimpse of her holiness. Right now, we don't have much time left, and my essence is fading. Go to the chief priest, he'll know what to do. Chen, you must be ready before the rising of the shadow sun. Until we meet again, may your soul be favoured. Now, go."

Chen opened his eyes and realised he was still sitting under the giant tree. Dreams? He had been dreaming while his father was dying? He was about to scream at himself in anger when he saw the created path in the misty Heavenly Forest.