"I'll join you. But on one condition."
Richard raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "And what might that be?"
"My children," Maria said, her voice trembling slightly despite her resolve. "You keep them safe. You give them a place here, a future. And you give me a position where I can protect them."
Richard studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "That doesn't sound too hard. My question for you now is, what do I stand to gain from this?"
Maria paused, not expecting this response. She pondered for a moment before gritting her teeth. "I'll tell you what I know about the strange new energy. We call it mana."
"Now that is a truly irresistible offer. You have a deal. You can see your children and I'll personally ensure their safety. Your job will be to teach everything you know to those I permit. This will allow you to live a comfortable lifestyle and provide for their needs."
Richard believed Maria. He had also felt the faint energy in the air, and whilst he observed the fight he realised the group in front of him were much stronger than he had anticipated. That was clear evidence in his eyes.
Richard's smile widened, and he gestured to one of his enforcers. "Escort her to her quarters. Make sure she is comfortable."
As the enforcer stepped forward, Maria cast one last glance at the group. Her eyes met Victor's, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something—regret, perhaps, or sorrow. But then she looked away, her expression hardening as she walked out with the enforcer.
The group stood frozen, their emotions raw and unfiltered. Victor's hands clenched into fists, his anger barely contained.
Lily's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her usual composure shattered. Walter looked older somehow, his shoulders heavy with the weight of betrayal. And AJ, silent and unreadable, rippled faintly, his form reflecting the turmoil within.
Richard watched them with a satisfied smirk. "You've made your choice. Now leave. And don't come back."
---
Their faces were a mix of anger and helplessness, each step heavy with the weight of Maria's decision. The camp, once a place of uneasy refuge, now felt like a prison they were being cast out of. The survivors gathered around, their eyes filled with a mix of sympathy and fear.
Victor led the way, his jaw clenched tightly, hands still curled into fists. Behind him, Lily's eyes glistened with unshed tears, her usual composure shattered. Walter looked older somehow, his shoulders weighed down. AJ, silent and unreadable, rippled faintly, his form reflecting the turmoil within.
As they moved through the camp, whispers followed them like shadows. The survivors watched, their expressions a mix of anger and resignation.
A young woman, her eyes filled with tears, stepped forward but hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper.
"This isn't right," she murmured, her hands trembling. "You shouldn't be leaving."
A middle-aged man, his face marked by the hardships of survival, nodded in agreement. "Richard's gone too far," he said, his voice low but firm. "But what can we do? If we speak up, we'll be next."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, but no one stepped forward. The fear of being cast out, of losing the meagre safety they had, kept them rooted in place.
The group walked on, their hearts heavy with the knowledge that they were leaving close ones and people in need, forcing them to fend for themselves for who knows how long.
Ethan paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the crowd. He saw the fear, the anger, the helplessness. He wanted to shout, to rally them, to tell them that together they could stand against Richard. But he knew it was futile. They were too scared.
---
Victor's jaw was clenched so tightly it ached. His hands, still curled into fists, trembled with suppressed rage. He wanted to turn back, to storm into Richard's tent and tear the man apart. But he knew it was futile.
They were outnumbered, outmatched, and now, fractured. Maria's betrayal—no, her _sacrifice_—cut deeper than any blade. He glanced at the others, their faces a mirror of his own turmoil, and felt a fresh wave of anger. We were supposed to stick together, he thought bitterly. Now what?
Lily walked beside him, her usual grace replaced by stiff, almost mechanical movements. Her eyes, usually so sharp and observant, were distant, glazed over with unshed tears. She replayed Maria's words in her mind, 'I'm choosing my children.' each one a dagger to her heart.
Lily understood, of course she did, but understanding didn't dull the pain. Without her, the group felt… unbalanced. Lily's hands twitched at her sides, itching to do something, anything.
Ethan walked a few paces behind, his broad shoulders hunched, his usual confidence replaced by simmering frustration. He had always been the one to charge headfirst into danger, to meet challenges with brute strength and unwavering determination. But this… this was different.
There was no enemy to punch, no obstacle to smash. Just the cold, hard reality of Maria's choice. He clenched his fists, his knuckles white, and glared at the ground as if it were to blame. We should've fought harder, he thought, his mind replaying the fight in Richard's tent. We should've done more.
Walter trailed behind Ethan, his steps slow and deliberate. His face was a mask of calm, but his eyes betrayed the storm within. He had lived through enough loss to know how it hollowed a person out.
Despite only being together for a short amount of time Maria wasn't just a member of the group; she was starting to feel like family.
Now though, she was gone, swallowed up by Richard's machinations. Walter's mind raced, searching for a way to fix this, to bring her back. But deep down, he knew there was no fixing it. Not without risking everything.
Sam walked alongside Walter, his expression calm but his mind racing. He had been analysing Richard's movements for days, trying to predict his next move. He was almost certain Richard was setting up a trap and yet he didn't stop them from walking into it.
His confidence had gotten them in trouble. He felt responsible for Maria's choice to leave. Had they been stronger, had he warned the group not to start a fight they couldn't win...
AJ moved silently at the edge of the group, his translucent form rippling faintly in the dim light. He felt the others' emotions like a physical force—anger and helplessness—it unsettled him in a way he couldn't quite articulate.
He wanted to comfort them, to reassure them that they would find a way forward. But words were not his strength, and even if they were, what could he say? Maria was gone. Their unity was shattered. And Richard… he had won.
As they neared the edge of the camp, the enforcers stopped, their expressions cold and unyielding. "This is as far as we go," one of them said, his tone dismissive. "Don't come back."
Victor turned, his eyes blazing. "You think this is over?" he snarled, taking a step forward. "You think we're just going to walk away and let Richard play king?"
The enforcer's hand went to his weapon, his expression hardening. "I think you'd be smart to keep walking. Unless you want to find out what happens to people who don't."
Ethan stepped forward, his voice a low growl. "You really want to test that?"
Lily grabbed Ethan's arm, her grip firm. "Let's go," she said quietly but urgently.
Ethan hesitated, his chest heaving with barely contained rage. Then, with a growl of frustration, he turned and walked away, the others following in his wake.
---
The moment they were out of sight of the camp, the dam broke.
Victor slammed his fist into a tree, the impact sending a shower of bark flying. "Damn it!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the empty forest.
Ethan kicked a nearby rock, sending it flying into the underbrush. "We should've fought harder," he muttered, his voice thick with frustration. "We should've taken them all down."
"And then what?" Lily shot back, her voice trembling despite her best efforts. "We would've all died. Is that what you wanted?"
"Maybe!" Ethan roared. "Maybe that would've been better than just... giving up!"
Walter stepped between them, his voice calm but firm. "Enough. Arguing won't change what happened. We need to focus on what comes next."
"What comes next?" Victor laughed bitterly. "What's left? Richard's got Maria, he's got the camp, and he's got the upper hand. We've got nothing."
"We've got each other," Lily said quietly, her anger giving way to exhaustion. "And we've got a choice. We can let this break us, or we can use it to get stronger."
Ethan crossed his arms, his jaw tight. "I'm not giving up. Not on Maria, not on any of us. But we can't just sit around and wait for something to happen. We need a plan."
Sam sighed, looking at them. "We can bounce back. We can't fight amongst ourselves, not if we want to bring down Richard and bring Maria back."
Walter nodded slowly. "Sam's right. We're stronger together. Always have been."
---
The night stretched on, the stars above cold and distant. The group sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface, tempered by grim determination.
As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Victor stood, his expression hard but resolute. "We'll get her back," he said quietly but steadily. "No matter what it takes."
Lily nodded, her eyes glinting with familiar fire. "And when we do, Richard's going to regret ever crossing us."
Ethan cracked his knuckles, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I'll make sure of that."
Walter smiled faintly, his gaze distant. "Let's just hope we're ready for what comes next."
AJ rippled in agreement, his form shifting into something resembling a clenched fist. The message was clear: We fight.
Sam nodded with them. "Yes, but first we get stronger."
And with that, the group turned their backs on the camp and walked into the unknown, their resolve stronger than ever. The road ahead would be long and fraught with danger, but they would face it together. Because that's what they did. That's who they were.
And no one—not Richard, not the enforcers, not even the weight of their own despair—would take that from them.
---
The world beyond Richard's camp was vast and unforgiving, a landscape reshaped by the Wish Event into something both familiar and alien. The group moved cautiously, their senses heightened by the knowledge that danger could come from anywhere—or anything.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and strange, unfamiliar plants, and the distant cries of unknown creatures echoed through the trees.
Victor took the lead, his sharp eyes scanning the terrain for threats. "We need to find shelter," he said quietly. "Somewhere we can regroup and figure out our next move."
Lily nodded, her gaze darting to the shadows. "And food. We can't keep going on empty stomachs."
Ethan cracked his knuckles, his frustration from earlier still simmering beneath the surface. "I'll take point. If anything tries to jump us, I'll handle it."
Sam walked a few paces behind, his expression thoughtful. "We should also keep an eye out for resources—anything that can help us survive out here. Tools, weapons, even information about this new world."
AJ moved silently at the edge of the group, his translucent form blending seamlessly with the surroundings. He extended a tendril, testing the air for vibrations, his heightened senses alert for any sign of danger.
As they ventured deeper into the wilderness, the reality of their situation began to sink in. They were back out in the harsh wilderness full of strange creatures, hidden dangers, and unpredictable landscapes. But it was also a world of opportunity—a place where they could grow stronger, learn new skills, and prepare for the battles to come.