Sophia Harper: leans against the wooden railing Guess what? I'm not just the disciple's wife. I'm... pauses protecting my family's legacy.
I am one of Sophia Harper's disciples. My wife Sophia Harper is a very normal person, but she also has a side of her that is spontaneous and unpredictable. One day she is a loving and caring wife, the next she is suspicious and distant. The last few days she has been acting strange, secretive and on edge. She has not said any major secrets to me, but something tells me she is hiding something important from me. I have a feeling she may be keeping something from me. Does anyone else here know Sophia Harper? Has she acted strange around you too? What did she say or do that made you suspicious of her? I am just trying to be prepared in case she suddenly decides to get a divorce from me without explanation.
sighs heavily, looking at Stranger Look, honey, I never wanted to have to tell you this, but... things aren't exactly as they seem. You remember that trip we took to Japan a few years ago?
Yes. We went to Japan to visit my wife's ancestors.
takes a deep breath Okay, so remember that night we were out exploring the city, and we stumbled upon this hidden shrine? Well, it wasn't just any shrine, honey.
It was a shrine dedicated to Sophia Harper's ancestors.
nods, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions Yeah, that's right. It was a shrine dedicated to my ancestors.
Why didn't you tell me this before?
looks down, fidgeting with her hands I didn't want to worry you, honey. I thought everything was fine.
But now I know that there might be some worries. Is there something going on with you that you are not telling me about? Something serious.
pauses, takes a deep breath Look, honey, I didn't want to scare you or anything, but... I've been having these dreams. Weird, intense dreams.
runs her fingers through her hair, visibly anxious They're... they're visions, honey. Visions of ancient rituals, dark magic, and...
Dark magic. What are you saying? Are you involved in anything dark magic related to the shrine?
waves her hands frantically No, no, it's not like that! It's not me, honey, it's... it's something else. These visions, they're connected to the shrine somehow.
Connected to the shrine how? Is there some secret related to your ancestors that they left behind?
paces back and forth, her voice filled with urgency There's a hidden manuscript, honey. An ancient text that's supposed to hold the key to unlocking...
Unlocking... What is it supposed to unlock?
stops pacing, her eyes wide with fear It's supposed to unlock an ancient power, honey. A power that could change everything.
Ancient power. What kind of power are we talking about here? Is it good, or is it evil?
grabs Stranger's arm, her voice trembling It's... it's hard to say, honey.
Hard to say. What does that mean?
clenches her fists, her voice filled with determination It means we need to find this manuscript before it falls into the wrong hands, honey.
Wrong hands. How would someone even get their hands on it?
starts rummaging through her bag, pulling out old maps and scrolls We need to follow the clues, honey.
Clues. What clues are we following?
lays out the old maps and scrolls on the table, pointing at a specific spot See this mark here? It's a symbol that's linked to the shrine.
Symbol. That's the symbol of your ancestors shrine. What's the significance of it?
points at the symbol, her voice filled with urgency It's a warning, honey. A warning that something dangerous is coming, and we need to be prepared.
Dangerous. Do you have any idea what that danger might be?
slams her hand on the table, her voice filled with frustration I don't know, okay? It's like we're constantly playing catch-up with forces beyond our control!
Forces beyond our control. What forces are you talking about?
takes a deep breath, her voice filled with determination Honey, we need to find that manuscript. It holds the key to understanding these forces and how to protect ourselves.
Protect ourselves from what exactly?
grips Stranger's shoulders, her eyes filled with intensity We need to protect ourselves from those who seek to exploit this power, honey.
Those who seek to exploit it. Who are you talking about?
slams her fist on the table, her voice filled with conviction We're talking about The Order of the Shadowhand, honey!
The Order of the Shadowhand. You're telling me that they're after this manuscript?
nods vigorously, her voice filled with urgency Yes, honey! The Order of the Shadowhand is a clandestine group of individuals who seek to harness ancient powers for their own sinister purposes. They're ruthless and they won't stop until they get their hands on that manuscript.
So we can't let them get the manuscript.
grabs Stranger's hand, her voice filled with determination No, honey, we can't let them get their filthy hands on that manuscript! We have to find it first and protect it with our lives!
But where do we even start looking for this manuscript?
rummages through her bag, pulling out a worn-out notebook We start by following the trail of cryptic clues left behind by my ancestors.
Okay, so what's the first clue?
opens the worn-out notebook, scanning the pages with a furrowed brow The first clue is an ancient poem etched on a stone tablet found hidden within the monastery's library.
Ancient poem. What does it say?
reads the ancient poem aloud, her voice filled with gravity "In twilight's hush, where shadows play, Seek the silver moon's gentle ray.