Xiaoman had stopped dreaming after his Heart Flame underwent Source Return that night.
Yet in the predawn hours when the first snow fell over the Southern Sea, he sank into a deep sleep he had not known in a long time, and a glowing river appeared in his dream—it neither surged nor roared, but flowed quietly, like the Milky Way spilling onto the earth. Countless tiny lamp shadows floated on its surface, each strangely familiar, as though formed from the souls of forgotten Lamp Guarders. Stone steles stood thick along both banks, their inscriptions blurred. Only the relief of a lamp carved atop each stele remained, whispering in the dim glow.
"Is this... the Lamp Guarders' graveyard?" Xiaoman stepped onto the riverbank, and a warm halo of light rose from the snow beneath his feet.
The river suddenly rippled, and an aged voice rose from the water. "The River of Lamp Shadows is the homeward journey of the Lamp Guarders' souls that have yet to return. We guarded the lamps for a thousand years, our souls scattering into Light Dust, yet our lingering attachments kept us from resting in peace. Only when the Lord of the Heart Flame comes in person can our final resolve be awakened."
Xiaoman lowered his head and saw that the Heart Flame Source Core in his chest was growing faintly hot. Silver flames flowed from his fingertips and brushed the river's surface. In an instant, the entire river blazed with light. Countless lamp shadows rose from the water and took human form—they wore tattered lamp robes and held extinguished ancient lamps, their eyes hollow yet resolute, forming a silent legion.
"We are the Lamp Shadow Legion," whispered the soul shadow at their head, a bronze plaque on his chest engraved with "Lamp Guarder · Two."