Chaos consumed the battlefield. The thunder of marching troops and the clash of steel against steel drowned out individual war cries.
Fire rained down upon crumbling walls as siege weapons roared their deadly song. The air hung thick with smoke and the metallic tang of blood.
Kael and his group stood frozen for a moment, as did the other adventurers who had been transported with them.
Some instinctively reached for their weapons, prepared to charge straight toward the Earth Kingdom's fortress to complete the trial's stated objective. Others remained motionless, paralyzed by uncertainty.
Sera's voice cut through their hesitation. "We need to move now. If we wait too long, the Fire Kingdom might execute the royals before we can reach them."
Kael stood several steps ahead, not turning around. His eyes swept across the battlefield methodically, taking in every detail from the formations of troops and the placement of siege weapons, to the disciplined movements that spoke of professional armies rather than mindless violence.
"No." His voice was firm, cutting through the noise of distant combat.
Sera frowned. "No?"
Kael finally turned to face her, meeting her gaze directly. "You're assuming the Earth Kingdom is innocent. That the Fire Kingdom is evil. But this is a test of morality, not mindless heroics."
Mira's brow furrowed as she listened, her sharp intellect already working to connect the pieces. "You think there's more to this war than we're being shown?"
Kael nodded once. "Morality isn't just about saving lives. It's about understanding right from wrong. If we rush in without understanding the full situation, we might end up on the wrong side."
Reiner crossed his arms, expression unreadable as he processed the logic. "So what do you suggest?"
"We gather information first." Kael's tone was steady. "Find out how this war started. Who's really in the wrong. Only then do we decide how to act."
Several seconds of silence passed as the group absorbed his words. Then Reiner surprised Kael by grinning slightly.
"All right. I see where you're going with this." He glanced at the others. "We split up. I'll take Luthen, Sera, and head to a Fire Kingdom outpost. Kael, you take Mira and Oris to the Earth Kingdom side. We compare notes later."
"I'll go with Kael's group." Sera spoke calmly, but her gaze lingered on Kael longer than necessary. Something flickered behind her eyes, curiosity mixed with suspicion.
Reiner's smile faltered slightly. "Sera—"
"I've made my decision." She didn't look at him when she spoke.
A flash of something, disappointment? frustration maybe? crossed Reiner's face before he masked it. "Fine," he replied evenly. "Oris, you're with me instead."
Kael didn't react to the exchange. The internal dynamics of their group weren't his concern. What mattered was getting the intelligence they needed.
Reiner took one last look across the battlefield. "We regroup here before nightfall. No unnecessary fights. We're gathering intel only."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Then they split up and moved out.
---
Kael's group had barely traveled fifty paces when they spotted a unit of mounted soldiers galloping across the war-torn plains.
"Perfect," Kael muttered under his breath.
Mira's eyes lit up with immediate understanding. "You want to borrow their horses?"
Kael, already moving into position, nearly stumbled at her phrasing. "Stay close," he said instead of answering directly.
The riders were focused on their destination, unaware of the threat approaching from their flank.
Kael crouched low, using the fractured terrain and scattered debris as cover as he positioned himself. Sera and Mira followed without question, their movements practiced and silent.
As the first rider passed within striking distance, Kael surged forward. His hands shot up, grasping the soldier's leg and yanking hard.
The man tumbled clean off his horse with a startled shout, hitting the ground before he could draw his weapon. Kael was on him instantly, delivering a quick strike that left him unconscious but alive.
Sera and Mira didn't hesitate.
Before the fallen soldier's horse could bolt, Mira grabbed the reins and swung smoothly into the saddle. Sera's bow sang, a well-placed arrow sliced through the saddle straps of another rider, catching him completely off guard.
The man tumbled as his horse reared in panic. In one fluid motion, Sera was on the animal's back, controlling it with practiced ease.
Kael mounted the third horse, gripping the reins tightly. The beast snorted and shifted beneath him, trained for war but still manageable.
"Move!" he barked.
All three kicked their horses into motion, accelerating across the battlefield before the remaining soldiers could organize a response.
Shouts erupted behind them. Several arrows whistled through the air, but they were already moving too fast, weaving between obstacles. Within seconds, they disappeared into the chaotic melee of the larger battle.
Sera let out a small, exhilarated laugh. "That was reckless. But effective."
Kael didn't respond. His focus remained fixed ahead. The Earth Kingdom's stronghold loomed in the distance, its tattered banners rippling in the smoke-filled wind. Now they just needed to get inside.
---
The massive city walls stretched high into the burning sky. Inside, the streets were lined with makeshift barricades. Soldiers guarded every corner and intersection. The air carried the weight of desperation, the unmistakable mark of a kingdom on the defensive.
The three of them dismounted outside the main gates and blended into the flow of weary warriors filtering in and out.
Guards were stationed at every entrance, scrutinizing everyone who passed through.
Kael adjusted his tattered cloak to mostly conceal his face. "Keep your weapons low. We're just another group of hired swords looking for work."
Sera and Mira followed his lead, adopting the tired, resigned postures of mercenaries who'd seen too many battles.
As they approached the gates, a soldier stepped forward to block their path. "State your business."
Mira stepped in smoothly before Kael could speak. "We're hired swords," she said with practiced casualness. "Looking for employment."
The guard's eyes swept over them carefully, noting their worn equipment and battle-stained clothing. "Where's your company crest?"
Kael's hand twitched toward his dagger. He'd anticipated resistance, but not this soon.
Sera reached into her pouch and pulled out a small iron emblem, holding it up casually for inspection. "We're with Captain Vareth's unit. Got separated during the last engagement."
The guard examined the crest briefly, then stepped aside. "Move along. Report to the quartermaster if you need assignment."
Kael didn't ask questions until they were well past the gates and into the crowded streets. He gave Sera a sidelong glance. "Captain Vareth?"
She smirked slightly. "I grabbed that emblem from the soldier you knocked off his horse. Figured it might come in handy."
Kael exhaled quietly. "Smart thinking."
Mira's eyes flicked between them. "Now what?"
Kael scanned the streets around them. Soldiers moved with exhausted determination, their faces grim beneath damaged armor. "Now we learn why they're really fighting this war."
It didn't take long to gather information. War made people careless with their words, and soldiers talked freely when they thought no one important was listening.
They moved through the city carefully, pausing near supply depots and taverns where off-duty soldiers gathered. Kael listened more than he spoke, piecing together fragments of conversations.
They learned three crucial things.
First, this war had been raging for over ten years. Every year, the Fire Kingdom pushed deeper into Earth Kingdom territory, but the advances were slow and costly.
Second, rumors about the captured royals circulated widely. Most common soldiers believed they were political prisoners. But some whispered darker theories, that the Earth Kingdom's leadership had deliberately allowed the capture as justification to escalate the conflict and seize more power internally.
Third, and most damning: the Earth Kingdom had struck first. Ten years ago, they'd launched a surprise attack on Fire Kingdom border settlements, claiming resource disputes. The Fire Kingdom had been defending itself ever since.
Kael leaned against the wooden wall of a supply tent, processing everything they'd learned. His mind worked through the implications methodically.
Sera scowled, arms crossed. "So we've been sent here to save the royals of a kingdom that might not deserve saving?"
Mira's expression was troubled. "If the Fire Kingdom has been defending itself all along, then rescuing the Earth Kingdom's royals might actually be the wrong choice."
Kael exhaled slowly. "This isn't just a test of strength. It's a test of judgment. Of seeing past simple narratives."
Sera's jaw tightened. "So what do we do?"
Kael's response was immediate. "We meet with Reiner's group. Compare what we've learned from both sides. Then we make an informed decision."
Mira nodded firmly. "Agreed."
Sera hesitated, then sighed. "All right. But I have a feeling this trial won't be as simple as choosing a side."
Kael glanced over his shoulder. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the war-torn landscape. The sky burned orange and red, like the world itself was on fire.
'She's probably right,' he thought. And he had a distinct feeling that the real trial hadn't even begun yet.