With a deep exhale, Kael cleaned the blood off his dagger. Even though his body hurt, he had no time to relax. The fight was over, but there was still one enemy left.
Elder Raine, the water mage, had already begun to back away, running toward the forest line while her flowing blue robes billowed behind her.
"Coward." he spat.
Kael's gaze flickered to Sera, whose face was still pale from watching him gut the pyromancer like an animal.
The way she had flinched, the way her hands had trembled—it wasn't fear of the enemy. It was fear of him.
But she didn't say anything.
Kael's tone was icy and decisive. "Finish her."
Sera's breath hitched a little. "She's... running."
Kael turned his silver eyes toward her, unblinking. "And if she reaches the city, she'll alert the others." His voice was calm, almost casual. "Loose ends get you killed."
Mira didn't say anything, but she didn't disagree either. She had already witnessed enough to understand that Kael's reasoning was both cruel and necessary.
Sera paused for one more second.
Then she drew her bow and let out a quick exhale.
The wind surrounding her changed, becoming more focused and sharp. She squinted as she tracked the water mage's movement through the trees.
Although Raine was quick, she wasn't quick enough.
Sera pulled back the string.
Wind-Guided Arrow.
A gust of air twisted around the arrow, guiding it like a predator locked onto its prey. The moment she let it fly, Kael already knew it wouldn't miss.
The arrow cut through the air, piercing straight through the back of Elder Raine's skull.
She didn't even get to scream.
Her body staggered mid-step before crumpling into the dirt. The silence that followed was final and heavy.
Kael looked on without interest. He hadn't doubted Sera would do it. But when he glanced at her face, he could see the faint unease in her expression.
She was skilled and deadly, but this wasn't the clean, honorable combat of a noble. This was an outright execution.
She remained silent, though.
Kael gave a nod of approval. "Good shot."
Sera swallowed hard and lowered her bow. "Yeah."
Mira glanced between them before sighing. "We should get moving before more show up."
Kael agreed. The fight was over, but the real mission had just begun.
Before they left, they quickly searched the bodies.
Kael crouched beside Garth's corpse, his dagger still wet with the werewolf's blood. He wiped it clean on the dead man's tunic before removing a thick silver pendant from around his neck.
———
[Item Acquired: Lunar Insignia]
Rarity: Uncommon
Effect: Enhances transformation abilities of werewolves. (Inactive for non-werewolves)
———
Kael rolled it between his fingers before tossing it aside. It was useless to him.
The pyromancer's body still smelled like burnt flesh, but Kael ignored it as he searched through the man's tattered robes. His hand brushed against something solid and smooth.
He pulled out a small, dimly pulsing black crystal.
———
[Item Acquired: Emberheart Core]
Rarity: Rare
Effect: Contains condensed fire essence. Can be consumed or used to enhance fire-based abilities.
———
"Now, this could be useful." Kael tucked it into his pouch.
On the other hand, Mira discovered a small silver ring on the water mage's corpse. She held it up, inspecting the engraved runes.
"This is enchanted," she muttered.
———
[Item Acquired: Aqua Ward Ring]
Rarity: Rare
Effect: Grants minor resistance to water-based spells.
———
Sera huffed, tossing aside a few useless trinkets she had found. "This is pretty much it."
Kael stood up and stretched a little. They had all they needed.
They mounted their stolen horses and rode into the night, leaving behind the battlefield, the bodies, and the war.
As they traveled, Kael's cloak billowed and the night air felt sharp against his skin. Although the horses' hoofbeat was steady, his thoughts weren't.
The fortress was next.
The key to this entire war was waiting: the captive royals. Kael would also determine whether they were worth saving.
Mira broke the silence first. "How far are we to the fortress?"
Kael looked around the terrain. A far-off ridge cutting through the countryside was made visible by the moonlight's lengthy shadows. The dark outline of a fortress rose against the horizon beyond that.
"Probably not far," he stated. "A couple more hours at best."
With a sigh, Sera adjusted her cloak. "We should slow down soon. If we push the horses too hard, they won't last."
Kael gave a nod. "We'll rest for an hour near the ridge where we can find cover."
Mira gave him a sideways glance. "You're actually letting us rest?"
Kael gave a small smile. "You will be of no use if you pass out in the middle of the trial."
Mira scoffed. "You see? He does care. He's human, after all."
Sera let out a dry chuckle, but it didn't quite make it to her eyes.
They rode in silence for a while longer, the fortress growing closer with every passing minute.
Suddenly, Kael's instincts pricked at the edge of his awareness.
Something was wrong.
The atmosphere had shifted. The silence was too deep, and the air felt heavier. Even the horses appeared uneasy, their motions becoming increasingly restless beneath them.
Mira frowned. "You sense it too?"
Kael took a moment to respond. His silver eyes looked about, trying to find out what his instincts were warning him about.
Then he noticed something—a flash of light in the darkness.
An arrow.
"Get down!" Kael barked.
They barely reacted in time.
Thwip! Thwip!
The arrows rained down, narrowly missing as the three of them leapt off their horses and took cover behind a cluster of boulders.
The ambush had been set up just right, waiting for unsuspecting riders while concealed along the ridge.
Kael cursed under his breath. Whoever they were, they weren't amateurs.
Sera's keen eyes scanned the darkness as she peered over the rocks. "Five or six archers, perhaps. They're making good use of the cover."
Mira clutched her staff as she knelt next to Kael. "They must be guarding the fortress's entrance."
Kael exhaled slowly, his mind already forming a plan. A direct fight would be too risky. They needed to be smart.
"Split up," he ordered. "Sera, flank them from the right. Take down as many as you can from a distance. Mira, you go left—disrupt their formation with with your primal energy. I'll go straight through."
Mira's eyebrow went up. "Through? As in charging them head-on?"
Kael had a sardonic grin on his face. "They won't anticipate it."
Sera let out a sigh. "You're insane."
Kael merely pulled out his dagger. "Go."