Kale stood in the center of the dark hall, silently gazing at the stone gate that was about to close. Complex emotions flickered in his eyes. The runes on the stone wall slowly went out, leaving only a cold stillness. It was as if the battle just now and the memories of the past had all been a dream. Alan and the woman stood behind him. The three of them were silent for a moment, and the silence spread in the air.
"The farther we go on this path, the more I don't know what I truly want," Kale said in a low voice. His voice echoed in the empty ruins, tinged with a hint of bitterness.
The woman gently approached him and looked at his profile. "So, do you know now?"
Kale closed his eyes, as if he had returned to countless bloody dusks. All that he had once lost and buried deep down had turned into lingering shadows in his heart. He slowly opened his eyes, and a gentle yet determined light appeared in his eyes.
"I want to protect all of this," Kale said in a low voice, his tone filled with resolve. "No matter what lies ahead, no matter how fate twists and turns, I won't let the tragedies of the past repeat themselves."
The woman smiled slightly, and a trace of approval flickered in her eyes. "Then, let's keep walking together."
Alan stood aside and sighed. "It sounds like you're planning to go head-to-head with fate again."
Kale turned around and patted Alan on the shoulder. "If we don't face it directly, we'll always be living in the shadows. And I don't want to run away anymore."
——
The three of them walked out of the ancient tomb. The night wind gently blew through the forest, and the sky was dotted with stars, as if countless pairs of eyes were watching them. Kale looked up at the night sky, but his thoughts had already drifted far away.
They walked all the way to a hill and overlooked the scene in the valley. The distant village still had its lights on, looking peaceful and serene. However, beneath this tranquility, Kale felt an impending crisis.
"The darkness hasn't dissipated. It's still approaching," Kale murmured.
Alan sat on a stone and idly fiddled with the withered grass on the ground. "Yeah, we just finished a battle. We should at least be given some time to catch our breath."
The woman looked at the village in the valley and suddenly asked, "Kale, what will you do after all of this is over?"
Kale was silent for a moment and then slowly said, "I want to find my own peace. Maybe in a distant place, I'll build a new home. There will be no killing, no disputes, only sunshine and the howls of the wolf pack."
The woman was taken aback for a moment and then smiled. "You want to live with wolves?"
Kale nodded gently. "The wolf pack was once my only home. I hope that one day, there will be no
more opposition between humans and the wolf clan, and we can coexist on the same land."
The woman didn't ask any further. Instead, she silently sat beside Kale, as if she could feel the deep longing in his heart.
Alan suddenly laughed. "It sounds wonderful, but your dream is a bit difficult. After all, humans and the wolf clan are sworn enemies."
"Precisely because it's difficult, it's worth doing," Kale replied calmly, his gaze unwavering. "Someone has to take this step, and I'm willing to be that person."
The woman said softly, "If that day really comes, I hope I can stand with you in that sunshine."
Kale felt a warmth in his heart and nodded slightly.
——
However, the peace didn't last long.
At dawn the next day, a mournful wolf howl broke the tranquility of the forest. Kale suddenly woke up from his dream, immediately rushed out of the tent, and looked in the direction of the valley. Billowing smoke was rising from the distant village, and there were ear-piercing shouts of killing and the roars of wolves coming from the village.
"Something's wrong!" Alan rushed out from the other side, his face solemn. "The wolf pack is attacking the village!"
The woman's expression tightened, and she quickly put on her cloak. "How is that possible? The wolf pack doesn't attack humans on their own initiative, does it?"
Kale's face darkened, and he sensed something was amiss. "These aren't ordinary wolves. They're the fallen wolf clan driven by the power of darkness."
As he spoke, he quickly drew the dagger at his waist and took the lead in running towards the valley.
In the village, the firelight illuminated the bloodstained streets. The villagers fled in all directions, and the black wolf pack rampaged and massacred under the control of the darkness. Kale rushed into the village, his gaze icy cold. He brandished his dagger and forced a black wolf back.
"Stop!" Kale roared. The wolf pack paused slightly, and a trace of hesitation showed in their golden pupils.
"They still have their wits..." Kale realized this and quickly turned around. He whispered to those wolves that hadn't completely fallen, "You don't need to massacre. No matter who is driving you, stop now."
However, a huge black wolf suddenly leaped out from the shadows and pounced on Kale with a roar.
"Kale, be careful!" The woman quickly drew her dagger and blocked the black wolf. The blade scraped against the black wolf's sharp teeth, and sparks flew.
Alan also raised his bow and quickly shot several arrows, which hit the black wolf's side. The black wolf winced and retreated, but its eyes were still blood-red.
Kale stood in front of the two of them and said in a low voice, "Don't kill it. It can still be saved."
The woman and Alan exchanged a glance and put down their weapons.
Kale slowly walked towards the black wolf, bent down, reached out his hand, and gently stroked the black wolf's forehead. "Do you remember who you are? You're a warrior of the wolf clan, not a servant of darkness."
A trace of struggle gradually flickered in the black wolf's eyes, as if it was battling against the power of darkness.
After a moment, the black wolf let out a low howl, slowly lay down on the ground, and the red in its eyes gradually faded, returning to its clear golden color.
Kale gently stroked its head and murmured, "This war isn't over yet, but at least, I saved you."
The woman walked up to him and said softly, "You did it, Kale."
Kale looked up at the burning village, but in his heart, he knew that this was just the beginning. The shadow of darkness still lingered in the forest, and he had to keep moving forward, for the dream in his heart and for those vows that had already been made.
"Let's go," Kale said softly. He led the wolf pack and his companions and embarked on a new journey together.