You stood petrified under the tree, shadows falling over you like a blanket of curses and whispers.

It was as if there were voices in your ear, rumours and evil allegations. Just like back then. The grandmaster's son didn't choose you in the end.

He didn't want you.

The daughter with the outstanding abilities was not worthy of him.

All the memories of days gone by came flooding back. Hatred and frustration choked your throat. Suddenly there it was, this tingling sensation.

No, this time it was so much more. It burned. It screamed and swallowed you whole. Your whole being was drowned by magic from the inside out, pulled into the depths.

Your shoulders stiffened. Fingers clenched into fists. The wind that blew through the branches was suddenly so much colder.

Was this Bi Han's doing?

Or just your feelings?

Your breath caught in your throat with rage as a sudden shiver coursed through your flesh. Tensely, you took a look at the sky. The clouds had changed. The day seemed to be getting darker.

As your gaze travelled over your shoulder, there was a man. You didn't know him, at least not from his appearance. His eyes reminded you of Liu Kang's, burning like coals but also as bright as the stars. Gold shimmered on his brown skin.

He wore only simple armour that covered half of his upper body and trousers made of red fabric and white ribbons. He bowed his head in greeting, his arms folded loosely but disciplined behind his back.

"(Y/N).", his voice was powerful, human and yet again not.

When he called you by your name, your innermost being seemed to vibrate. As if he had your soul between his hands. Hesitantly, you turned to him and bowed.

"Do we know each other?", you asked, raising an eyebrow.

The anger from before was gone. Now there was curiosity. And indifference.

The man shook his bald head. He was so strangely calm.

"My name is Geras.", he introduced himself again with a bow. "Liu Kang sent me."

"Ah.", the scepticism on your face softened. "Did he return from Outworld?"

"That's how it is. And he asks for your presence."

Your eyes jumped over your shoulder up to the stone steps. Kuai Liang's house was not far from there. And Bi Han didn't have too much of a head start.

"I will inform the grandmaster.", you turned away just as Baobao raised his head.

You had completely forgotten his presence. Juice stuck to the fur around his mouth. He yawned tiredly, but got up and trotted off in the direction you had wanted to go. Surprised and yet confused, you frowned.

"Strange...", you muttered. "He's not usually like this..."

"Liu Kang doesn't need the grandmaster for this moment.", said the man called Geras. "He will come when we deem it necessary."

Just then, you noticed a scroll tied to a red cord around the panda's neck.

"I see.", you turned back to the man.

At first glance he had seemed very human, but with every minute you spoke to him you realised how unnaturally still he was. Lines ran through his body as if he was made of different parts. Like a doll.

"Is this a bad time?", he frowned, but didn't look like he was thinking. "The matter is urgent."

You shook your head.

"Not at all.", you indicated that he should go first.

And he did. But he didn't walk across the ground as you had expected. Instead, his feet hovered a few centimetres above the stone.

Worry was something that didn't exist on Liu Kang's face. At least that's what you had always believed up to that point. By the time you entered the private chambers of the god of fire, day had passed and night had fallen.

Strange, considering that just a few minutes ago it had been broad daylight. Time seemed to pass more quickly. Or in another way. But something was wrong, you could feel it.

Although your mind was still troubled by Bi Han, you could rely on your senses to be sharp. That was one of the things you had to thank the old grandmaster for. He had been tough, demanding.

But also fair and reliable. It was only thanks to his desire for perfection that you weren't an emotional wreck at that moment. Something that relieved and frightened you at the same time.

Was it that easy to push Bi Han away, to forget what he had done?

Again?

A sigh rolled from your lips as you took the first step into the firelight. Your own chatter crawled across the stone floor beneath your feet.

"You came.", it was as if Liu Kang was surprised by your presence.

You bowed to him, just as a Lin Kuei learnt to do from childhood.

"I was called.", you replied sternly.

Fire crackled in your ears. The orange flames bathed your face in deep shadows. Liu Kang looked at you for a moment.

"Fate has not allowed itself to be tricked.", he said.

Regret was reflected on his face. You frowned in confusion, looking back and forth between him and Geras.

No one answered the unspoken question. But just as you took a breath to say the words, Liu Kang closed his glowing eyes and lowered his head as if he was disappointed.

"There's a lot one can change about fate.", he said.

Flames kissed his face, making even the tiny stubble on his chin shimmer. You shook your head.

"I don't think I'm a servant of fate.", you said. "At least I hope so. Otherwise the cards it gave me would be unpleasantly bad."

He listened at these words.

"So it wasn't a decision.", his lips were moving as if he was thinking. "Then nothing is set in stone."

You crossed your arms in front of your chest.

"I would like to know what we are talking about."

"Fate.", Geras replied.

"That could be anything.", you shrugged your shoulders. "And yet it feels like this conversation is very specific."

Liu Kang nodded. Fire crackled.