The sky was already tinged with amber and gray as Kael made his way through the rubble, guided by the faint groans coming from a pile of broken stones, charred wood, and fallen banners.
The two wounded n were almost unrecognizable: covered in dried blood, ash, and shreds of torn cloth. One had lost part of his armor in the impact, and the other kept his eyes half-closed, as if at any second unconsciousness would overco him.
Kael knelt beside the first, a young man, his skin stained with blood and soot. His breathing was ragged, and his chest heaved with effort.
The other—an older soldier with scars on his face—shuddered as he approached. He tried to speak, but the sound that ca out was only a muffled wheeze.
Kael raised his hand.
His palm glowed a soft golden green, and a light breeze blew around them, as if nature itself answered the call.
The blessing of the World Tree coursed through his fingers, flowing in gentle waves. The energy touched the first man, and the lacerated flesh on his chest began to slowly regenerate. The congealed blood dissolved, and his eyes, previously dull, reignited with a gleam of surprise.
The second soldier was next. As the energy enveloped him, his breathing quickened for a second—as if sothing were pulling him back from the abyss. The deep gash in his side closed, and the hissing gave way to a sigh of relief.
They both looked at Kael in astonishnt, but said nothing. They were still trying to understand why they were still alive.
Kael stood, wiping his hand on his leather pants, and turned.
Asuka, who had remained standing while watching, tried to hide the wound in her shoulder. The blood had dried, but her rigid posture betrayed the pain.
Kael walked toward her, pausing silently a few steps away.
She stared at him for a second, her eyes narrowed. "It's not as bad as it looks."
He ignored her words and raised his hand again.
A golden aura glowed between his fingers, and the sa healing energy flowed from his palm to her shoulder.
Asuka winced, perhaps reflexively, but didn't flinch. The heat of the magic coursed through the wound, closing the flesh and cleaning the surrounding stains. When it was done, she relaxed her shoulders and looked away, avoiding his gaze.
"Thank you," she murmured, almost annoyed.
Kael simply nodded.
"What are your nas?" he asked, turning to the two newly healed soldiers.
The younger man answered first, his voice still weak. "R-Rendall, sir."
"And I... I'm Denharn," the other said with effort.
Kael knelt before them. "What happened here?"
The two exchanged a quick glance, as if trying to confirm they were truly awake.
"We... don't rember everything," Rendall said, pressing his forehead with a soot-stained hand. "It all happened so quickly. We had just finished our night patrol when the first wave ca. Orcs... but not ordinary orcs."
Denharn added: "They were... coordinated. They acted as if they were part of sothing bigger. Sothing organized. They invaded silently, without the typical shouting. Before we knew it, half the wall had already been taken."
"And the fog..." Rendall continued. "It fell like a blanket. We couldn't see two ters ahead. So of us fled, others... scread and disappeared into the darkness."
"Do you know if there was an escape point?" Kael asked, his tone firm. "Anywhere civilians could run?"
Denharn nodded with effort. "There was a cave near the western wall. We used it for ergency shelter. It was hidden among rocks and dry trees, near the plains. Maybe so of them made it there."
Kael stood up again and looked at Asuka and Klee, who were now sitting near the rubble, visibly exhausted. Asuka was wiping the blade of her katana with a dirty cloth, while Klee drank water from her canteen with trembling hands.
"Stay here and rest," Kael said. "I'll check that cave."
Asuka looked up, narrowing her eyes. "Going alone? There might still be enemies out there."
"Precisely for that reason. If it's a trap, I'd rather be the only one to fall into it," he replied calmly. "If there are any survivors, I'll bring them back."
Klee hesitated, looking around. "What if he doesn't co back?"
Kael stared at her for a second, then gave a half-smile—dry, humorless, but firm.
"Then you'll know sothing went wrong. But be sure to rest while you can. You fought well."
Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked toward the western wall.
The stones along the path were covered in dark stains, and the sll of blood, burning, and corroded magic still perated the air. As he walked away from the destroyed ship, Kael felt the silence grow deeper—not the silence of peace, but the silence of a battlefield after its end.
It was as if the world had stopped to observe what remained.
Vegetation was beginning to return, though burned in several spots. He saw fallen trees, fleeing animals, and, in the distance, the outline of the great walls, partially destroyed. So areas still emitted smoke, as if the battle had taken place minutes ago.
Kael followed the tracks carefully. He had learned to recognize the patterns of escape: uncoordinated footsteps, drops of blood at intervals, scratches on the stones. The signs led to a section of the wall where the vegetation appeared to have been intentionally swept away.
Behind a large, inclined rock, he found the entrance.
The cave was barely visible from a distance. The vines and fallen branches ford a natural disguise. Only with careful attention could one discern a passage there—narrow but deep.
Kael approached slowly, his entire body alert. The place slled of fear and sweat. There were handprints on the ground, scuffed trails, children's footprints mixed with boot prints.
He pressed his hand against the stone wall and whispered a few words softly. A soft glow escaped his fingers, illuminating the dark interior of the cave.
"If anyone is in there..." his voice echoed softly, "don't be afraid. I'm not an enemy."
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
Then, a faint whisper ca from deep within, barely audible.
Kael took a few more steps. He saw wide eyes glowing in the magical light. Children, won, elders. There were at least twenty people huddled against the cave wall, dirty, hungry, but alive.
A woman stood, hugging a small child with a trembling arm. "Y-you... aren't you one of them?"
"No. I'm here to help," Kael replied, approaching cautiously.
He knelt, reactivating the flow of the World Tree's blessing. The energy enveloped the group in gentle waves, soothing wounds, lessening pain, and restoring so vigor.
The children began to stir, so crying, others staring at Kael as if he were an impossible vision.
"We did it..." the woman whispered, clutching his arm as if afraid he would disappear. "We thought no one would co..."
Kael looked around. Most of them were in terrible shape. But they were still alive.
"You'll get out of here," he assured her. "Follow . I'll lead you to safety."
He helped the first few to their feet. Slowly, the group began walking out of the cave, protected by his presence.
And Kael, even carrying the pain of what he saw and the responsibility of what he had done, kept his eyes focused on the light.
Because, in that mont, even if only for a few seconds, he had saved sothing—and that was enough.
Kael walked out of the cave with firm steps, but his heart was heavy with devastation. Behind him, the survivors walked like specters from a world that no longer existed. The setting sun tinted the sky red, reflecting the spilled blood and the smoke still lingering on the horizon. He said nothing—he just continued driving, listening to every sound, every shadow among the burned trees.
When they reached the clearing near the walls, Asuka and Klee were already on their feet, weapons in hand, visibly ready to act if any threat appeared. But when they saw the dozens of tired faces and the faltering steps behind Kael, their eyes widened.
"There are… there are children there," Klee murmured in disbelief.
Asuka clenched her fists, slowly lowering her katana.
Kael stopped before them, his gaze steady.
"They were hiding in an ergency cave. They were waiting for… anything. Help they might not even have believed would co."
Asuka hurried forward, helping an elderly woman to her feet. Klee took a cloak from her own shoulder and wrapped it around one of the shivering children.
"You… did this alone?" the woman asked, looking from Asuka to Klee. "The fighting… we heard sothing, but…"
"No," Kael said, cutting her off gently. "You protected yourselves. You survived. That's what matters now."
He turned to Denharn and Rendall, who were still sitting among the rubble, visibly exhausted, but now with more color in their faces.
"They need shelter, food, and safety," Kael said, his tone commanding yet calm. "Lead those who can to what's left of the warehouses. Gather materials. Take inventory."
Rendall nodded, even though his leg was still a little unsteady.
"Yes, sir. We can manage."
"We'll set up a temporary camp," Kael continued. "This area isn't safe enough to spread out yet. No one goes more than fifty ters without an escort."
"Understood," Denharn replied, struggling to his feet.
Asuka approached Kael as the survivors were gathered by Klee and the soldiers. The sky was now darkening, and the temperature was beginning to drop with the night wind.
"You're... calr," she said, crossing her arms.
"I don't have the luxury of anger right now," he replied. "Lives depend on it."
She looked at him for a mont. There was admiration in his eyes, but also caution.
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