#ix.

And you were chosen to paint my thangka? My journey to Shangri-La?

I was young. As warrior to the Kyrati King, I had only just earned my name. Kalinag. I had trained to be the King's protector but he selected me for something quite different. I was sent to find Shangri-La, paradise on earth. His obsession. And I was ready.

Tell me, how can your thangka show the impossible? The only way you can witness paradise… is to live it.

My path here had been long and difficult. I'd seen things… done things… I'd wish on no one. But I was a fool to think that paradise was immune to suffering. The Tiger had seen bloodshed. He was a being born from another world. A Protector. Impaled by the tooth of a massive beast…

There had been a great battle in the forest. The tiger, defending his home. But from what?

Demons had invaded Shangri-La… not of this earth, not of clear mind. Someone… something wanted Shangri-La for themselves. The Tiger had returned from the dead. Not to save my life, but to gain an ally.