Kael blinked.
The sky spun above him like a wheel. A shadow passed across it.
Not a bird.
A face… steel-helmed, eyes narrowed in focus. The man's mouth was moving, but Kael heard only a dull throb in his ears. A pounding ache pulsed behind his eyes.
Then came more.
Hands on his arms. Lifting him gently.
"He is fine," someone murmured. "He's not wounded. Just… Exhausted."
Kael tried to speak. Tried to tell them they were alive. That Segeford—
No. He stopped himself.
He saw Miya being carried too, limp in someone's arms. Sylvy lay on a rough cloth stretcher, her eyelids fluttering. Liam was still conscious, nodding slowly like every thought was made of stone as he discussed something with Guards.
They were brought to a wide gate of ironwood logs, overgrown with creeping vines. Torches burned low beneath a looming watchtower.
Outpost Veilgard.
A name Kael had seen once on a map… just a dot at somewhere on the map . Yet now, it looked like heaven.
Inside, the outpost smelled of smoked meat, rusted iron, and damp soil. Dozens of faces turned toward them… soldiers, traders, scouts, and adventurers. Their expressions shifted from confusion… to alarm… and then pity.
Kael hated that look.
A woman in a crimson scarf… a medic probably… rushed over. "Get them to the barracks. The girl's burning up… gods, what happened to these kids?"
No one answered.
Because what could they even say?
They have found something ancient. Something hungry.
'They walked in with a guard And walked out without him.'
They were separated. Given beds and Told to rest.
But Kael couldn't just sleep.
The mattress was too soft. Too quiet. He remembered the cold, honest weight of the earth… The silence of stone.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the Howler… its uncountable eyes sparkling in the dim light of torches, its mouth dripping black. And Segeford, Dashing onto it's face it.
Again. And again.
He sat up with a jolt, chest heaving, jaw clenched. His body still remembered running away…. running away like a coward… a mere weakling… that's what he was
Stumbling to the washbasin, he splashed water over his face. In the mirror, he saw a ghost staring back… gaunt, pale, hollow-eyed, like his soul had been scooped out and replaced with night.
He turned away and Left the cabin.
Outside, between the gally-way, flickering lanterns lit the alley in gold and shadow. Liam stood near the gate, Tim and Terren at his side. None of them had found sleep.
Kael walked up to them quietly.
"Miya… she told me something," Liam said, not turning to look. His eyes stayed fixed on the darkness beyond the outpost.
"There were no beasts…. She said we could have waited for Segeford. "
He paused.
"I acted. I thought it was right. I'm not as strong as Captain, But I tried. I did what I thought would keep us alive."
His voice trembled.
At that time, Liam was not a leader… .
He was just a man… barely past thirty—shouldering too much to be carried.
Kael thought of his father. Of the quiet worries in his eyes the day he left. Of the weight he carried without ever raising his voice. He missed him. Gods, how he missed him.
Kael just wandered out beyond the outpost walls. Into the clearing.
Night had fallen completely. A lone cart sat near the tree line, likely a merchant's… guarded by adventurers too tired to speak.
Above, the stars shimmered like silver prayers.
Kael looked up.
"Gods…. Only if i was stronger… As strong as Segeford…"
Kael's voice hold deep helplessness…
Then—
He heard a voice.
Raspy. Breaking.
"Why…? I just want one answer. WHY!?"
Kael froze. He couldn't see anything. The dark felt endless.
"You said love was the purest form of devotion… and all I did—ALL I DID—was love!"
The voice roared like a wounded Lion.
Another voice responded… deeper, cold, divine.
"That was blasphemy, not love… "
"Oh, don't give me that!"
A second scream tore through the air, raw with grief.
"I'll tear you all apart! DESTROY YOU…. You gave me death… I will give it back to you ten folds…. ! I will beat your gods until their blood turns black! You'll beg for mercy… just like she did!"
"I WILL RETURN…."
The words echoed inside Kael's skull like thunder.
as two points of silver light appeared in the dark. Just like ones in the Ruins.
He gasped…
And burst open his eyes.
He was Back in the clearing. Morning sun filtered through the canopy.
Kael had fallen asleep on the ground. His body ached like he'd been lying on stone for days.
He stretched, dazed.
"It's been a while…" a voice was heard.
Kael turned. Terren stood at the hall's entrance.
"What?" he asked.
"Yeah."
Kael scratched his head, needing more words to understand the situation.
"Where are you headed though?", Kael asked.
"Nature calls… brother…", Terren replied, grinning.
As Kael decided to give Terren company as they headed towards the jungle.
…
After cleaning up, Kael entered the main hall.
Edward and Sylvy sat at a table, distant and quiet. Liam stood near a post with Tim, trying to look composed.
"It's been three days," Liam said. "We should return to Valemoor."
Kael blinked. "Wait—what? But, We got here last night."
Terren smirked. "It's been a while brother… remember?"
"You were out cold. Thought you were dead for a while.", he continued.
"And No one woke me!?", Kael in complete disbelief blurted.
"We tried," Sylvy giggled. "but You were like a rock. Not responding to anything."
Kael sat down hearing that... grabbing his head, questioning the reality.
Laughter rushed in.
Real, soft, human laughter filled the hall.
The first since they returned.
Even Tim smiled.
It felt like sunlight after a long, grey storm.
"We leave tomorrow," Liam announced.
"No."
Everyone turned.
Miya stood in the doorway, her voice sharp as winter.
"I followed you once," she said. "For their sake. But I'm not leaving now. Not until the Captain returns."
Her words landed like hammer on iron. Even Liam fell silent.
"I suggest something," Terren said, cutting through the tension. "Let Lady Sylvy return. Her condition isn't improving. She needs proper care. Master Tim, Edward, and Kael can accompany her and the rest of us can wait here. its not like everyone of us have to stay here, right…"
It made sense. They had no supplies. No coin. They were draining a frontier camp that barely had enough.
"Well, Terren is right… ," Liam nodded.
Miya didn't argue.
"Do what you want," she said flatly. "But I stay. Until he comes back."
And she walked away.
"She's not being selfish," Liam said softly. "She and the Captain… they've been together for two decades. She doesn't just follow him. She reveres him. Loves him. And to just leave someone like that behind…. You understand right…?"
Kael nodded. "We understand."
Liam's expression softened with gratitude.
"Alright. Pack up. You leave in an hour, before the sun reaches it's peak" he said. Then turned to Tim. "Bring help and Return in a month. We will go on search for Captain once you return.", said softly.
Tim nodded his head as Liam instructed. Liam clasped Tim's forearm, their grips firm like warriors, and pulled him into a silent embrace … the kind forged through fire and loyalty. Warriors Brotherhood.
Kael stood up.
"I'm not leaving."
Every eye turned to him.
"I want to. I want to see my parents. My sister. But something's telling me to stay. I don't know what it is… but I feel like I'm being called. Like This is my destiny to stay…. To become more."
Liam studied him for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Suit yourself."
…
The group left not long after.
As Kael and Terren stood outside watching the cart disappear…
Terren adjusted the blade at his belt and started moving towards the jungle.
"Where are you headed?" Kael asked.
"To train."
Kael stepped forward. "Mind if I join?"
Terren grinned. "Two is better than one."