The burning arrow had disappeared into the dark sky several moments ago, but the battlefield below showed no sign of slowing down. What had begun as a duel between Kieran and Ragnar had turned into a full-scale battle, with the Wolf Clan and Ragnar's forces clashing across the valley. Steel rang against steel, claws tore through armour, and bursts of Aura flashed through the dust as both sides fought desperately for ground.
Leo remained near the edge of the fighting, his bow still in his hand. His attention, however, was no longer on the battle. Every few moments, his gaze returned to the distant mountain ridge.
He had sent the signal.
Now all he could do was wait.
Another violent clash from the centre of the battlefield drew his attention back. Kieran and Ragnar collided once again, the impact of their weapons sending a shockwave through the surrounding dust. Kieran staggered backward, planting his spear firmly into the ground to stop himself. Blood ran from the corner of his mouth, but his golden eyes never left Ragnar.
Ragnar wasn't in much better condition. His breathing had grown heavier, and blood stained parts of his armour. Yet the great axe in his hands remained steady, the dark green Aura surrounding the Immortal Blade flickering violently as he prepared for another attack.
Neither man was willing to give ground.
Then Leo looked toward the mountain again.
This time, something had changed.
Two figures had appeared along the ridge.
They were distant at first, little more than silhouettes against the dark mountains, but they were slowly making their way down the slope. Leo narrowed his eyes as he watched them.
One figure walked ahead.
White hair moved gently in the wind, and a dark cloak followed behind him with every step.
Leo recognized him immediately.
Rowan.
Several metres behind him came another figure.
Adrian.
Leo's expression barely changed, but his attention sharpened. Adrian was alive. He wasn't walking freely, however. His movements were restrained, and the condition of his clothes made it clear that he had already been through a struggle. Still, he was conscious.
Leo watched them descend.
So they came.
Exactly as he had calculated.
But something about Rowan immediately felt wrong.
Leo had seen him before. He remembered the bright presence that had once surrounded him, something almost gentle despite the strength hidden beneath it. But the man descending the mountain now carried none of that warmth.
There was only a heavy silence surrounding him.
Rowan didn't hurry.
He didn't need to.
He simply walked down the mountain as if the battle below had nothing to do with him.
The warriors nearest the ridge began noticing him.
One knight stopped in the middle of an attack and looked toward the approaching figure. Another lowered his weapon. Then another. Within moments, the change spread through the battlefield.
The fighting around Rowan began to slow.
Not because he had commanded them to stop.
Because they recognized him.
And those who recognized him knew better than to stand in his way.
Rowan continued forward.
A knight near the edge of the formation stared at him, gripping his sword tightly. Fear was visible in his eyes, but something stronger seemed to overcome it. He suddenly raised his weapon and charged.
Rowan didn't even change his pace.
The knight swung.
The blade cut through empty air.
For an instant, Rowan seemed to have disappeared.
Then a flash of steel passed through the knight's guard.
The man froze.
His sword slipped from his fingers.
A thin line of blood appeared across his throat before his body collapsed heavily onto the ground.
The warriors around him stood frozen.
Rowan didn't even look down.
He continued walking.
Another knight stepped forward.
This one came with more caution, circling slightly before raising his weapon. His eyes followed Rowan's every movement, waiting for an opening.
He attacked.
Again, no one saw Rowan's movement clearly.
There was only another flash of steel.
The knight stumbled past him.
His body remained upright for another step before collapsing face-first into the dirt.
The remaining soldiers stopped.
Whatever courage had brought them forward vanished.
One of them slowly lowered his sword.
Another took a step backward.
Rowan continued walking between them.
He didn't chase anyone.
He didn't need to.
The sight of the fallen men was enough.
Adrian followed behind him in silence, his restrained movements making it clear that he had not come here by choice. His eyes travelled across the battlefield, taking in the fallen warriors before eventually finding Leo.
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke.
Adrian's gaze lingered for a moment before Rowan's presence drew his attention away.
Leo's eyes returned to Rowan.
The man continued toward the centre of the battlefield.
Kieran noticed him first.
His golden eyes narrowed as the pressure surrounding Rowan began to reach him.
Sasha, standing nearby, turned in the same direction.
Her expression changed the instant she saw him.
The wolves around them instinctively moved aside.
Even those who didn't know exactly who Rowan was could feel something was wrong. The air itself seemed heavier around him, as though the battlefield had become aware of his presence before their minds could understand it.
Ragnar eventually noticed him.
His expression hardened.
He was still on one knee from his battle with Kieran, one hand gripping the Immortal Blade while he caught his breath. Blood ran down his arm, and his armour was damaged from the duel.
Yet the moment his eyes settled on Rowan, the irritation returned to his face.
Rowan stopped several metres away.
For a moment, the two men simply stared at one another.
Ragnar slowly rose from his knee, forcing himself upright despite the pain.
"Stay out of this."
His voice carried across the clearing.
Rowan didn't answer.
Ragnar tightened his grip around the great axe.
"This has nothing to do with you."
Nothing.
Rowan remained completely silent.
His gaze stayed fixed on Ragnar.
Ragnar's jaw tightened.
"I said stay out of this."
Still no response.
The silence became unbearable.
Ragnar glanced briefly toward the surrounding warriors before looking back at Rowan.
"Whatever you came here for..."
His breathing was heavy.
"...take Leo and leave."
Rowan didn't move.
Ragnar's eyes narrowed.
"This is between me and the Wolf Clan."
The Immortal Blade scraped against the ground as Ragnar adjusted his grip.
"Stay out of this."
For several seconds, Rowan remained motionless.
Then his eyes shifted.
Not toward Ragnar.
Toward Leo.
Only for a brief moment.
But Leo noticed.
His fingers tightened slightly around his bow.
Rowan's gaze returned to Ragnar.
His hand moved slowly toward the sword at his side.
Kieran's expression changed.
His grip tightened around his spear.
Sasha's eyes widened slightly.
Ragnar noticed the movement as well.
"Don't—"
Rowan drew his sword.
The blade left its sheath with a quiet metallic sound.
Then he moved.
There was no warning.
No dramatic burst of Aura.
No roar.
One moment Rowan stood several metres away.
The next, he was already inside Ragnar's guard.
Ragnar's eyes widened.
He tried to raise the Immortal Blade.
Too late.
Rowan's sword swept upward from below with terrifying speed.
For a fraction of a second, Ragnar remained standing.
His eyes were still wide.
Then a thin line of blood appeared across his body.
The Immortal Blade slipped from his fingers.
His body slowly separated along the path of Rowan's strike before falling to either side.
Thud.
Thud.
The great axe struck the ground beside him.
Nobody moved.
The entire battlefield fell silent.
Rowan stood between the two halves of Ragnar's body, his sword still lowered at his side.
He didn't look down.
He simply stood there.
And for the first time since Rowan had entered the battlefield, nobody dared make a sound.
Rowan slowly turned toward Leo.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The battlefield remained silent. Ragnar's body lay behind Rowan, while the Immortal Blade rested in the dirt several feet away. Every warrior watched as Rowan began walking toward Leo.
Leo remained still, his bow in hand, his eyes following Rowan's approach.
When Rowan stopped before him, his gaze settled on Leo.
"You've made your choice."
Leo said nothing.
Rowan's eyes briefly shifted toward the Wolf Clan before returning to him.
"You chose to stand with the enemy."
His voice remained calm, carrying the weight of an official judgment.
"You fought against Velora."
Leo's eyes narrowed slightly.
Around them, the warriors watched without moving. Kieran's expression became tense as he listened, while Sasha stared between Rowan and Leo, still struggling to understand how the man standing before them could have come here with such a purpose.
Even Adrian remained silent.
Rowan slowly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"For betraying the Empire and standing against its forces..."
His fingers tightened around the hilt.
"I, Rowan Radiance, Loyal Sword of Velora, hereby pass judgment upon..."
He slowly drew his blade.
The sound of steel leaving its sheath echoed through the silent battlefield.
Kieran's grip tightened around his spear.
Sasha's eyes widened.
Leo remained motionless, his gaze fixed on Rowan.
Behind them, the remaining warriors stared in silence, waiting for the words that would determine Leo's fate.
Rowan raised the blade slightly.
His eyes never left Leo.
"...Leo Radiance."
The name echoed across the clearing.
For a brief moment, nobody moved.
Then Rowan delivered his judgment.
"Traitor to the Empire."