The next morning arrived with reluctant sunlight filtering through the cave's entrance. Ari woke exhausted - sleep had been impossible. Every time she'd closed her eyes, the screams returned. The heat. The smoke.
Liriel lay curled beneath Akira's cloak, mumbling something incomprehensible in her sleep. Ari lifted her head carefully, wincing at the stiffness in her neck, and surveyed their temporary shelter.
The campfire had burned down to red-glowing embers. Akira was gone, though his worn leather bag lay abandoned against the cave wall, its contents scattered carelessly around it - rope, a whetstone, strips of dried jerky. The fish from yesterday remained on its stick where he'd left it, now cold and surrounded by buzzing flies.
Ari stretched out her hand, grimacing at the effort, and picked up the fish. She took a cautious bite, chewed slowly, then immediately spat it out.
Cold. Disgusting.
Liriel stirred beside her, rubbing her eyes with small fists before squinting at Ari. "Is it tomorrow?" the child asked drowsily, already turning onto her other side to burrow back under the cloak.
"Yes. Wake up." Ari's voice came out rougher than intended.
Liriel groaned - a sound far too world-weary for a nine-year-old - and began moving with exaggerated slowness.
Ari picked up the fish again and stretched as far as she could, placing it carefully on the glowing coals to warm. Her injured legs protested even this small movement.
"Come on, hurry," Ari urged, an edge of desperation creeping into her voice. "We need to move, or he'll leave us here."
Liriel stood, stretched her arms above her head and arched her back like a cat, then padded outside without a word, leaving Ari alone in the dim cave.
Ari sat on the sleeping mat and reached for the now-warmed fish. She forced herself to eat, though the taste was bland - whatever flavor it had possessed yesterday had been lost overnight. Each bite required extensive chewing before she could force herself to swallow.
"Ready?" Akira's voice came from the entrance, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against the stone.
Ari swallowed hard and tossed what remained - more than half the fish - into the fire.
For the first time since he'd wrapped her in it, Ari removed the heavy black cloak. The cool morning air raised goosebumps on her skin. She examined her legs carefully, massaging the bruised flesh and testing the joints with gentle movements. Standing alone, however, still seemed impossible.
Akira crossed the cave and extended his hand. When Ari grasped it, he pulled her upright effortlessly, as though she weighed nothing. Her legs trembled violently beneath her, threatening to give out, and she quickly grabbed his forearm with her other hand to steady herself.
"Can you walk?" he asked, his tone neutral.
"I'll try."
Akira released her and stepped back. Ari stood on shaking legs, uncertain how to proceed. She focused on calming the trembling, on rigidifying her posture, on willing strength into her battered body. Akira moved around her with casual efficiency, collected his cloak from where she'd left it, and threw it over his shoulder. He stooped briefly to snatch up his travel bag from beside the wall, slinging it across his back in one smooth motion. Then he walked out of the cave without looking back.
Still trembling, Ari took one small step. Then another. Each movement was an exercise in controlled terror - her legs felt like they might collapse at any moment. But slowly, incrementally, she moved closer to the cave's entrance. Relief warred with despair inside her chest: glad that she could walk at all, devastated by how slow and uncertain each step was, terrified of falling and being unable to rise.
Then she emerged into daylight.
For the first time in two days, warm sunlight bathed her face. Before her stretched forest greenery, white clouds drifting across blue sky, the sun hanging golden above the treetops. An ordinary view - but so breathtakingly refreshing after the darkness of the cave and the horror of the Citadel.
"Hurry up!" Akira's voice came from far ahead, already growing faint with distance. Beside him stood Liriel, clutching her teddy bear.
Panic seized Ari's chest. The thought of being left alone in her condition, helpless and crippled in the wilderness, was unbearable. She tried to move faster. Each subsequent step came quicker but less precisely - and then her legs gave out.
She hit the ground hard.
Breathing heavily, exhausted from just those few steps, Ari tried to push herself upright. Her legs refused to cooperate. Tears formed in her eyes, hot and unwanted, but she blinked them back furiously. Don't cry. Be strong.
"Try again."
Akira was crouched beside her. She hadn't heard him approach. Liriel stood behind him, covering her mouth with the teddy bear, her eyes wide with concern.
"Help me," Ari said, hating how small her voice sounded.
"No."
"I can't stand up. Don't you understand? I can't."
"Did you try?"
"Yes, I tried - but I can't."
"Try again."
Ari looked at him through tear-blurred vision, expecting mockery in his expression. But his face was serious, intent. He remained crouched very close to her, one hand extended, open - waiting for her to grasp it. Completely still. Patient.
Ari grabbed his hand and pulled herself up slightly, then placed her other hand on his thigh for leverage, hauling herself higher until she could grip his shoulders. Now standing, though her legs shook uncontrollably beneath her, she met his eyes up close. He rose smoothly to his feet - and as he moved away, Ari slowly crumpled back to the ground.
"See? I can't." She was sobbing now, beyond caring how it looked. "Go without me."
Akira turned to Liriel and handed her his bag - the child struggled slightly under its weight but managed to sling it over her shoulder.
Then Ari felt the familiar weight of his cloak settling around her shoulders.
Confused, she looked up. He had turned his back to her, crouching slightly.
"Come on. Get on my back. I'll carry you."
Ari didn't hesitate. She climbed onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and he stood effortlessly, adjusting her weight with practiced ease before setting off through the forest.
"What was all that talk about leaving me behind?" Ari asked quietly, her lips close to his ear. "Why are you carrying me now?"
"If I'd wanted to leave you to die, I wouldn't have pulled you out of the Citadel in the first place."
Ari pulled the hood over her head and rested her cheek against his shoulder with a deep sigh. Some of the tension bled out of her body. She was safe. For now, at least, she was safe.
They walked through the forest for some time. Ari watched the scenery pass with lazy, half-focused eyes - green leaves filtering golden sunlight, birds calling from hidden branches. Liriel wandered ahead, swinging the oversized bag, seemingly treating this as nothing more unusual than an average walk through the woods.
"Can I ask you something?" Ari said eventually.
"Mm?"
"Do you know who attacked the temple back then?"
"Mercenaries from Midori. Not hired by nobles, as far as I know."
"Do you know any names?"
He didn't answer.
"And what about what happened at the Citadel?"
"I should be asking you that. I'd just arrived when everything happened. Left immediately with you two."
"So... what do you want to know?"
"Nothing, actually. I don't care about it."
"If you don't care, then why were you there?"
Again, silence.
Several moments passed before Ari continued, unsatisfied with his evasions.
"But I care. Would you help me understand what happened?"
Akira sighed - a sound of resignation.
"Kid, come here." Liriel bounced back toward them, a stick nearly her own height clutched in one hand. "Break time."
Akira unloaded Ari onto a fallen tree and sat beside her to rest. Liriel immediately wandered off again, lost in her own world.
"What happened?" he asked. "At the Citadel."
"There was fire everywhere. Explosions." Ari's voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "When I woke up, so many people were already dead. I was terrified. I still am." She paused, swallowing hard. "I don't remember everything clearly..."
"Did you see anyone alive?"
"No. There was one man - he was on fire, but..." She couldn't finish. Shook her head. "No."
"What about the fire? Where did it start?"
"The lower levels had more fire. I think it began there."
"And the explosions?"
"I heard many. Each one shook the entire Citadel."
"Multiple explosions?" His tone sharpened slightly with interest.
"Yes. One after another."
"Hmm." Akira was silent for a moment, thinking. "Here's how I see it: The bodies are self-explanatory. The fire either started naturally after the explosions, or someone set it deliberately. As for the explosions themselves - either they were planted beforehand and detonated remotely, or this was the work of a Combustion mage."
"Combustion mage?"
"A mage who specializes in creating explosions. A simple hand grenade wouldn't shake the Citadel's foundations - but a skilled Combustion mage could absolutely accomplish it."
"I didn't even know such magic existed."
"It does. Rare, but real. Though it's also possible someone planted explosives in advance - a spy, perhaps." He stood, brushing dirt from his pants, and called to Liriel. "I'd suspect a noble, the captain of the guard, or someone in a position of household authority. A head maid, perhaps."
"Why them?"
"Because no one would question them bringing in barrels of 'supplies.' A noble would say it's none of your business. A captain would claim military orders. A head maid would say it's pickled cabbage for the kitchens."
Ari lowered her head, processing this. The implications were horrifying - someone she'd met, perhaps even spoken to, might have orchestrated the slaughter. Iselda? Mariselle? The guards? Someone else entirely?
"Ari? Is everything all right?" Liriel asked, genuine concern in her young voice.
Ari didn't respond immediately. She sat with her head resting against her thighs for a long moment, struggling with something internal. Finally, she straightened her back slowly, though her expression remained troubled.
"Something happened, Ari?" Liriel pressed.
"No... I mean, yes." Ari took a steadying breath. "I wanted to apologize. To you." She looked directly at Akira.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, surprised.
"I gravely misjudged you," Ari continued, her voice gaining strength. "When we met the first time - when you saved me from the temple - I imagined you as a brave warrior. Someone noble and heroic." She paused, gathering courage. "Yesterday, when we met again... I changed my opinion. To me, you were no longer a brave warrior but a rough, dirty thug. Strong and capable, yes, but still a thug."
Akira's expression didn't change, but he was clearly listening.
"I was afraid of you," Ari admitted quietly. "Frightened to the point that I couldn't sleep properly with you nearby. But today... today I've changed my opinion again."
She met his eyes steadily. "Even though you're rough and straightforward - even harsh - I know now that you genuinely wanted to help me. You motivated me, in your own way, to be strong and move forward. You saved me from the Citadel. You treated my wounds. You watched over me while I slept. You kept me warm. You kept me fed. You kept me safe."
Her voice softened. "Today, when you helped me stand, I saw in your eyes that you cared - even if you'd never admit it aloud. Even though yesterday you said you'd leave me behind, right now you're carrying me on your back, walking me safely toward the city, even though you have absolutely no reason to do it."
"I'm truly sorry for thinking so poorly of you. I want to apologize sincerely and honestly." She bowed her head slightly. "I'm sorry."
Akira took a deep breath, seeming almost uncomfortable with the earnest gratitude. "You think too much about it. Let's just move on."
He turned his back again, and Ari climbed onto it without protest.
"I think about it because it's important to me," she said as they resumed walking. "I want to know you better. When this is over - when you eventually visit Kar-Ah - promise you'll come see me."
She paused, then added formally: "I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Arianna Rosviel, daughter of the High Priestess. I live in the first tier, in the wooden mansion near the Cathedral."
He didn't respond, but she felt his pace remain steady, his grip on her legs secure.
The silence between them felt different now. More comfortable. Almost companionable.
After a long trek through the forest, they finally reached Valkrath's outskirts.
Ari and Liriel were disoriented, unable to recognize which part of the city they'd entered, though something in the air smelled familiar to Ari.
As they wandered through narrow side streets, Ari suddenly recognized a familiar turn in the path. A narrow stairway led upward between the buildings, opening onto a quiet rooftop where a small shrine waited above the noise of the city.
"I know this place," Ari said, lifting her head from Akira's shoulder. "Turn right here, and we'll reach the main road to the Citadel."
"I'm not lost," Akira replied evenly. "And we're not taking the main road."
"Why not?" Ari asked. Liriel looked up at them both, her expression questioning.
"I'm not exactly a welcome guest here."
Without further explanation, Akira moved swiftly through the city, taking the longer route through close-pressed alleyways and the edges of private properties, avoiding main thoroughfares entirely. By evening, they crested a hill that overlooked the harbor district.
Before them lay the Citadel.
Or what remained of it.
The massive black stone fortress that had dominated Valkrath's skyline was now a hollowed ruin. White smoke still rose from countless gaps in the collapsed walls, drifting like ghosts against the darkening sky. The proud structure that had seemed indestructible just days ago was now a broken shell, its upper floors caved inward, its grand entrance charred and crumbling.
A small group of people stood before the ruins - survivors, perhaps, or searchers looking for bodies. One man sat slumped by what had once been the main entrance, his posture suggesting exhaustion beyond measure.
As Akira approached with Ari still on his back and Liriel walking at his side, the sitting man's head jerked up. He stared for a moment, disbelieving - then leaped to his feet and ran toward them.
Ari's expression transformed, warming with recognition and relief.
"ARI!"
Ari released her grip on Akira's neck and, still perched on his back, threw her arms around her guardian as he reached them. Samuel. Alive. Battered and ash-stained, but alive.
"ARI!" Samuel sobbed openly, tears cutting clean paths through the grime coating his face - ash and smoke and dried sweat creating a mask of exhaustion. "We thought you were gone too!"
"'We'?" Ari's voice cracked with desperate hope. "Frost is with you?"
"Yes. He's... well, he's alive. We've been searching the Citadel for days without rest, looking for you." Samuel pulled back slightly, his hands framing her face as he stared at her soot-darkened features. "We thought we'd lost you too!"
Akira knelt smoothly, and Ari slid from his back to the ground. Her legs trembled but held - barely.
Samuel seemed to notice Akira for the first time, his gaze sweeping over the dark-haired stranger with obvious assessment. "I should thank you for - "
His words cut off abruptly.
A spear flew between them.
There was a moment of complete disorientation - confusion and sudden, visceral clarity all at once. Ari, Liriel, and Samuel locked their eyes on the weapon now embedded in the ground: a spear with primitive ornamental carvings along its shaft, feathers tied just below the iron head.
Akira stood utterly still, but his posture had shifted into something predatory. Every muscle was taut, ready to explode into motion.
As Samuel turned his head, his peripheral vision caught more spears arcing through the air toward them.
Akira lifted his hands and snapped them forward. The ground cracked. Stones ripped free and shot into the air, slamming into the incoming spears and knocking them aside. They clattered harmlessly across the cobblestones.
Three likaon warriors stood opposite them, all clad in iron armor decorated with wolf pelts and primitive totems. Their faces were hard, their stances aggressive. Hunters who'd found their prey.
Akira turned and ran - not in panic, but with the calculated speed of someone who knew exactly what he was doing.
The likaon warriors pursued immediately, their armored forms surprisingly swift. Samuel grabbed reflexively for his sword, only to realize it was gone - lost during the Citadel disaster, along with portions of his armor.
Standing bravely before Ari despite having no weapon, Samuel prepared to defend her. But the likaon warriors paid him no attention whatsoever. They charged past as though he didn't exist, focused entirely on Akira, disappearing into the same side streets where he'd vanished.
Everyone stood frozen in confused silence.
Ari cried out after her savior, her voice raw with desperation - but her shout was drowned out by another voice entirely.
"LIRIEL!"
A figure stumbled from the crowd of survivors and ran toward them. Iselda - with elegant dress but smeared with ash and grime, her face streaked with dirt and tears - swept Liriel into a crushing embrace.
"LIRIEL! LIRIEL! LIRIEL!" The older sister repeated the name like a prayer, like an incantation to make this reunion real.
Then Iselda noticed Ari lying on the ground behind Samuel, still too weak to stand properly. "ARI! You too - oh gods, ARI!"
Iselda gathered both Liriel and Ari into one desperate hug, holding them as though she could keep them safe through sheer force of will. "I thought I'd lost you both!"
"I'm going back for Frost," Samuel announced, and before anyone could respond, he disappeared into the ruins of the Citadel, vanishing into the smoke and shadows.
Iselda pulled back slightly, looking between her little sister and Ari. "Where have you been this whole time?"
"We were saved by a man," Liriel explained, her voice small but steady. She clutched her teddy bear tightly and glanced back toward the alleyways where Akira had fled. "Uncle's warriors are chasing him. Why?"
Iselda's eyes widened as she looked at Ari, her eyebrows rising in question.
Ari, lost in troubled thought about Akira's sudden flight, barely registered the question. "Iselda," she said quietly, "what happened here?"
"I don't know yet. Not completely." Iselda's voice broke. "I lost you when it all began. I tried to go back for you, but all the passages were blocked - collapsed or burning. Frost eventually evacuated me by force."
Tears spilled down Iselda's cheeks, and she made no attempt to stop them. "They all died. The maids. Our guests. The guards. Families and friends..." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Mariselle is gone. Why did this have to happen? Why?"
Ari's eyes widened in shock and grief.
Mariselle is gone?
The kind woman who'd prepared the bathhouse, who'd smiled warmly despite the chaos of hosting unexpected guests - dead. Burned, crushed, or suffocated in the destruction.
"Samuel and Frost did everything they could," Iselda continued, her words tumbling out between sobs. "They saved so many people. Dozens. Maybe more. They kept going back in, over and over, until the structure became too unstable..."
Ari's vision blurred with tears as she saw movement near the Citadel's entrance. Samuel emerged from the smoke, and beside him walked another figure.
Frost.
He moved with a grim, measured pace - the walk of a man who'd been through hell and emerged fundamentally changed. The left side of his face bore a deep, angry burn scar that twisted the skin into rough, mottled patterns. Half of his once sky-blue hair was simply gone, burned away, while the remaining half was matted with ash and smoke residue.
The leather portions of his armor had melted and blackened. Some of the iron pieces had warped in the intense heat, creating grotesque, misshapen curves where clean lines had once been. His left eye - the one on the burned side - had changed from its original sharp blue to a clouded gray. The eye was open, but clearly sightless.
He walked directly to Ari and crouched down as she reached for him.
She cradled his burned face in her hands, horrified by the transformation but unable to look away. Her fingers trembled as they softly touched the rough, wrinkled scar tissue - skin that had once been smooth now felt like old leather, textured and tight.
"Frost," she whispered, her voice breaking.
He met her gaze with his remaining good eye - still that sharp, piercing blue, still him beneath the damage. "You're alive," he said, and his voice was the same: rough, practical, direct. "That's all that matters."
But Ari could see the pain beneath his stoic mask. Not just physical pain - though that must be constant - but the deeper agony of a guardian who'd failed to protect those in his care.
"I couldn't find you," Frost said quietly, so only she could hear. "I searched. Both of us searched. But there was so much fire, so much smoke... I thought - " His voice caught. "I thought I'd failed you."
"You didn't fail me," Ari said fiercely, tears streaming down her face. "You're here. You survived. You saved Iselda and so many others. You didn't fail anyone."
Samuel stood nearby, giving them space but watching protectively. His own face was haggard with exhaustion, his armor dented and scorched, but his injuries seemed less severe than Frost's. He'd been lucky. Or perhaps just positioned differently when the worst of the fires hit.
Liriel pressed close to Iselda, her small face buried against her sister's shoulder, the teddy bear crushed between them. The child had been remarkably resilient, but seeing the ruined Citadel - the place that had been her home - and witnessing the emotional devastation around her was clearly taking its toll.