A Qualified Medium

Father had failed in the end.

He had been so exceptionally gifted, regarded as the most talented leader in the tribe's history.

The weapons he created had killed the Flame that had tormented the tribe for years. He had reunited the fractured tribes, solved the riddles of the darkness, and told everyone the truth about the entire world of eternal night. Yet even someone as outstanding as him had failed to find a qualified information medium.

Their culture was too impoverished. In this endless eternal night, the flower of civilization simply could not bloom.

Before Father departed, he took Han Qin's hand and passed the position of leader to her, asking her to continue searching for a qualified information medium. He also entrusted her with many other things.

As his body dissipated, Father's consciousness merged back into the darkness.

The surrounding tribespeople began to sing a farewell song. Their voices drifted farther and farther with his consciousness, flying toward the boundary between darkness and chaos.

Han Qin remained where Father had died for a long time. Only when the tribespeople called to her did she emerge from her grief.

Being able to return to the darkness normally was already something worth celebrating, but she still could not bring herself to be happy. Her heart felt hollow, as though something was missing.

Han Qin dazedly looked toward the place where Father often sat alone in thought. A lonely figure seemed to remain there, but when she looked closely, it vanished, leaving behind only an empty stretch of Sand Land.

"Leader Han Qin, what should we do now?"

"Continue making that weapon. I'll search for the information medium."

Han Qin forced herself to remain calm. She was the leader now, no longer the little fart who had always stumbled along behind Father.