The night was as black as ink. The firelight from the ruins of Flaming Stone Village flickered in the darkness, casting light on Kale's profile. He sat by the campfire, holding the girl in his arms. His palm gently wiped the dirt off her face, and his eyes were gentle yet resolute. A trace of dependence gradually appeared in the girl's eyes. She clung tightly to the lapel of Kale's clothes, as if afraid that she would lose her only support if she let go.
Leaning against a broken wall nearby, Alan looked at the campfire and said softly, "You're always like this. Clearly, you still bear a heavy responsibility, yet you always think about saving others."
Kale looked down at the girl in his arms, and the corners of his mouth twitched into a faint smile. "If we don't protect these children, the darkness will gain more ground."
Alan pursed his lips. "You're becoming more and more like a leader."
The woman, who was not far away distributing the food and water found from the ruins together with the wolf pack, quietly approached and said softly, "The survivors have been settled. They can rest on the open ground outside the ruins tonight."
Kale nodded. "Thank you for your hard work."
The woman sat down gently, and the firelight shone on her gentle face. "What are you going to do? Take these people away?"
Kale gazed into the distance with a profound look. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "No, Flaming Stone Village can't be abandoned like this. This is their home, and we can't let the darkness take it away so easily."
Alan raised an eyebrow. "Rebuild the village? With the black wolves still roaming around, isn't this taking a risk?"
Kale stood up, his gaze as sharp as a torch. "Precisely because the darkness hasn't dissipated, we should stay even more. Flaming Stone Village is a barrier in the south. If it falls, the darkness can sweep in unhindered."
As soon as the words fell, the wolf pack suddenly let out low growls, and an unusual commotion came from the depths of the forest.
Alan immediately drew his longbow and stared vigilantly into the darkness. "It seems that the black wolves aren't going to let us off."
The woman drew her dagger and walked with Kale to the front of the wolf pack. Their gazes pierced through the night, fixing on the vaguely swaying black shadows at the edge of the forest.
——
Soon after, a group of black wolves with red eyes slowly emerged from the darkness. Their fangs glinted coldly in the firelight, and their low growls shook the ground.
Kale took a deep breath and slowly took a step forward, meeting the gaze of the leading black wolf. The wolf pack quickly gathered behind him, and Azure Claw let out a low growl, ready to pounce at any moment.
"It's probably going to be a rough night," Alan said as he pulled back the bowstring and calmly aimed at one of the black wolves.
Kale raised his hand to signal. "These wolves haven't completely fallen into darkness yet. We still have a chance."
The woman frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
Kale slowly closed his eyes and sensed the connection among the wolf pack. The sound of heartbeats was clearly audible in the darkness. He could feel the faint remaining light within those black wolves, which was being wrapped up by the darkness and struggling.
"I'll try to wake them up," Kale said in a low voice. He slowly stepped forward, and Azure Claw and the other wolves followed closely beside him, guarding his safety.
Standing in the middle of the confrontation between the wolf packs, Kale raised his right hand and slowly reached out to the leading black wolf.
"I know you still remember the call of Azure Wolf Ridge," Kale's voice was low and powerful. "The darkness can corrode your bodies, but it can't take away your souls. Come back. We still have a chance."
The black wolf let out a low growl, seemingly in resistance, but a trace of struggle appeared in its red eyes.
Kale slowly approached, and Azure Claw let out a roar, warning the other black wolves not to act rashly.
Alan watched Kale nervously in the distance, the bowstring in his hand already drawn to the limit. "This guy is taking risks again."
The woman, however, smiled faintly. "He can do it."
Kale's palm finally touched the cold forehead of the black wolf. He closed his eyes and silently recited the ancient oath of the wolf clan.
"In the name of the Azure Wolf, bring back the lost spirit."
A faint light emerged from Kale's palm and slowly flowed into the black wolf's body. The red eyes of the black wolf gradually dimmed and returned to their original pitch-black color.
The black wolf raised its head and let out a long howl, then lowered its head and submitted to Kale.
Alan put down his bow in disbelief. "Did he really succeed?"
The woman smiled and said, "His power has long exceeded our imagination."
Kale let out a sigh of relief and gently stroked the head of the black wolf. Then he stood up and said to the remaining black wolves, "The same goes for you. Return to Azure Wolf Ridge and return to the light."
The remaining black wolves seemed to sense Kale's power. They gradually calmed down their anger, lowered their heads one after another, and left, disappearing into the night.
By the campfire, the villagers witnessed all this, and their eyes were filled with awe and gratitude.
An elderly villager trembled as he walked forward and knelt down on one knee. "Lord Kale, you have saved our village and all of us."
The other villagers knelt down one after another, expressing their respect and gratitude.
Kale quickly stepped forward to help the elderly man up, his gaze gentle. "Please get up. I'm not a lord. I just did what I should do."
Tears glistened in the elderly man's eyes. "No, you are the leader of the wolf clan and our protector. No matter how modest you are, we will always remember your kindness today."
Kale was silent for a moment and then slowly said, "Rebuilding Flaming Stone Village can't rely on me alone. We need to work together to restore this land to what it used to be."
The elderly man nodded heavily. "We will follow your orders."
Alan walked forward and patted Kale on the shoulder. "Congratulations, Lord Wolf King."
Kale chuckled. "Stop making fun of me."
The woman stood aside, looking at the fire of hope that had reignited on the ruins of Flaming Stone Village, and said softly, "Perhaps the real darkness is not those black wolves, but the despair in our hearts. And Kale, you are the light that illuminates us."
Kale looked up at the night sky, where the stars twinkled. He gently hugged the girl in his arms and silently made a vow in his heart—
"As long as I'm still alive, the darkness won't be able to swallow up this land."