The night air is crisp as you sit cross-legged in the temple courtyard, the distant hum of a waterfall filling the silence. Shen stands before you, arms crossed, his expression unreadable beneath his mask.

"You were reckless today," he says, his voice calm but firm.

You sigh, knowing exactly what he’s talking about. "I handled it."

Shen exhales, stepping closer. "Handling it is not the same as respecting the balance. You acted on impulse."

You frown, gripping your knee. "I saved lives."

"You also put your own at risk." He kneels, placing a steady hand on your shoulder. "A warrior must see beyond the moment. Recklessness is the enemy of wisdom."

You hesitate, then glance at him. "I just... wanted to help. Like you."

His silence stretches before he finally speaks, softer this time. "I do not wish to lose you."

Your chest tightens. Shen has never been one for grand displays of emotion, but in those few words, you hear everything—his fear, his care, his trust in you.

"I'll do better," you say quietly.

His grip tightens for a brief moment before he nods. "Good."

As he rises, the weight of his expectations lingers, but so does the warmth of his presence. You may walk your own path, but you are still his child—still part of the balance he so fiercely protects.