The echoes of Elias's parting words still reverberated in Damen's mind as he led the group away from the ruins of their latest battle. The air carried the acrid scent of burned earth and blood, remnants of the skirmish that had left them weary but alive. Zyra walked beside him, her hands still trembling from the revelation Elias had delivered—her power wasn't just a gift, but a curse designed to be harnessed by forces far beyond their understanding.
Cassian remained silent, his thoughts undoubtedly occupied by his brother's betrayal. Valen walked a few steps behind them, his expression unreadable. The tension in the group was almost tangible, a weight none of them could shake.
"We need to keep moving," Damen finally said, breaking the silence. "Elias won't wait long before he comes after us again."
Zyra hesitated. "And when he does?"
Damen exhaled sharply. "We'll be ready."
But even as he said the words, doubt gnawed at him. Elias had changed, transformed into something darker, more ruthless. And the Shadow King's forces were gathering. They didn't just have an army—they knew. The knowledge that could break them from the inside out.
The Rising Threat
A storm was brewing on the horizon, both figuratively and literally. As they traversed the barren landscape toward their next safe point, the sky darkened with thick, roiling clouds. Thunder rumbled in the distance, an ominous warning of what lay ahead.
Valen, who had remained quiet for most of the journey, finally spoke. "We're being followed."
Cassian stiffened, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his weapon. "How long?"
"Since we left the ruins," Valen replied. "They're keeping their distance, but they won't stay hidden forever."
Zyra looked over her shoulder, her unease growing. "Elias?"
"No," Valen said, shaking his head. "Something else."
Damen exchanged a glance with Cassian before nodding. "We need to set a trap."
The Ambush
They reached a clearing surrounded by jagged rock formations, perfect for an ambush. Damen signaled for the others to take their positions, and within minutes, they melted into the shadows, weapons drawn.
The air was still, save for the occasional rustle of the wind through the brittle grass. Then, a twig snapped.
Damen tightened his grip on his sword. The enemy had arrived.
Figures emerged from the darkness, cloaked and hooded, their movements eerily synchronized. The lead figure stepped forward, lowering his hood to reveal a face lined with age and wisdom. His piercing gaze settled on Damen.
"You are fighting a war you cannot win," the man said.
Damen's jaw clenched. "That's not for you to decide."
The man sighed. "No, but history has already decided for you."
Cassian scoffed. "Who are you?"
The man's lips curled into a knowing smile. "I am someone who once believed as you do. That we could defy fate." He looked at Zyra, his expression unreadable. "But fate does not take kindly to defiance."
Zyra took a step back, the energy within her flaring to life instinctively. "What do you want?"
The man's smile faded. "To warn you. The Shadow King's army marches as we speak. And when they arrive, they will not leave survivors."
Damen narrowed his eyes. "Then why warn us?"
The man hesitated before answering. "Because I once served him."
A collective breath was taken by the group. The revelation changed everything.
The Coming Battle
The stranger—who introduced himself as Aldric—explained that the Shadow King had amassed a force unlike any before, one that moved through the land like a living storm. Villages had already fallen, their inhabitants either enslaved or slaughtered. And Elias… Elias was no longer just a general. He had become something else.
"He's become the Shadow King's right hand," Aldric said. "And he wields power beyond what any of you can imagine."
Cassian's face darkened. "He was my brother. He still is."
Aldric studied him for a long moment before shaking his head. "That may be true. But the man you knew is gone."
Zyra's hands curled into fists. "There has to be a way to stop him."
Aldric looked at her, something almost resembling pity in his eyes. "There is. But it will cost you."
Zyra met his gaze. "Tell me."
Aldric hesitated before finally speaking. "The only way to end this war is to sever the Shadow King's hold on the Veil. And to do that…" He exhaled, his next words heavy. "You must be willing to destroy what remains of Elias."
Cassian tensed beside her, but Zyra held Aldric's gaze. The thought of facing Elias again—of ending him—twisted her stomach into knots. But the fate of the world hung in the balance.
Damen stepped forward, his voice firm. "Then tell us how."
Aldric turned, looking at the approaching storm on the horizon. "The Shadow King knows you're here. And he's sending everything he has to stop you."
The first drop of rain fell, sizzling against the scorched earth.
Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the figures marching toward them—hundreds of soldiers, their armor glinting like obsidian in the darkness.
Zyra swallowed hard. The war was no longer a distant threat.
It was here.