The afternoon sun hung high above the capital of Therandil, casting long golden rays across the stone streets. The peaceful breeze that drifted through the city was deceptive, for everyone knew that beyond the towering walls of the capital, the kingdom was still locked in a desperate struggle against the ever-growing threat of the Lizard-men.
For the first time in several days, Kael and Draven had managed to enjoy a quiet morning.
After repairing their weapons, checking the condition of their equipment, and resting their aching bodies from the previous day's battles, the two friends finally decided it was time to return to the Adventurer's Guild.
Kael tightened the leather straps of his armor before fastening his sword around his waist.
"So..." Draven said while stretching his shoulders, "think Brunhilde has another impossible mission waiting for us?"
Kael chuckled.
"Knowing our luck... probably."
The two shared a smile before stepping outside.
The streets of the capital were unusually crowded.
Merchants hurried to deliver supplies.
Blacksmiths hammered weapons with relentless determination.
Healers rushed through the streets carrying boxes filled with potions and bandages.
Soldiers marched in organized formations toward the city gates.
Everyone seemed to be preparing for another battle.
Neither Kael nor Draven spoke for several minutes.
The atmosphere alone was enough to tell them how serious the situation had become.
After a short walk, the familiar stone building of the Adventurer's Guild came into view.
Unlike usual days, the building was overflowing with adventurers.
People filled every available corner.
Some studied maps.
Others sharpened weapons.
Several mages quietly discussed strategies while supporters distributed healing potions.
The normally cheerful guild had transformed into what resembled a military headquarters.
Kael looked around in surprise.
"I've never seen this many adventurers gathered in one place."
Draven nodded.
"Looks like something serious happened."
They carefully pushed through the crowd until they finally reached the reception counter.
Standing behind it as always was Brunhilde.
The guild receptionist looked exhausted.
Stacks of documents surrounded her.
Even so, the moment she noticed Kael and Draven approaching, she smiled warmly.
"Welcome back, you two."
Kael bowed politely.
"Good afternoon, Brunhilde."
Draven smiled.
"You look busier than ever."
Brunhilde let out a tired laugh.
"I wish that wasn't true."
Kael looked around once more.
"Why is everyone gathered here?"
Brunhilde folded her arms.
"The war has become much worse over the past few days."
Her expression turned serious.
"The Knights of Therandil have requested assistance from every available adventurer."
She reached beneath the counter before placing a rolled-up map in front of them.
"We need reinforcements on several battlefields."
She pointed toward a location marked with red ink.
"This is where your help is needed."
Kael accepted the map.
"We'll head there immediately."
Brunhilde smiled with relief.
"I knew I could count on you two."
She paused before adding quietly,
"...Please stay alive."
Kael smiled confidently.
"We'll come back."
Draven nodded.
"And we'll bring back good news."
Without wasting another second, the two friends left the guild.
The marked location lay several kilometers outside the capital.
As they hurried along the road, signs of war became increasingly visible.
Broken supply wagons littered the roadside.
Several abandoned camps still smoldered.
Deep claw marks scarred the earth.
The silence was broken only by distant explosions and the occasional cry echoing from somewhere beyond the hills.
Neither Kael nor Draven enjoyed the sight.
After nearly an hour of running, they finally reached the battlefield.
The scene before them stole their breath.
Smoke rose into the sky.
Fields that had once been green were now stained with blood.
Hundreds of soldiers clashed against equally numerous Lizard-men.
Magic exploded across the battlefield.
Flames.
Ice.
Lightning.
Wind.
Earth.
The air itself trembled beneath the overwhelming power being unleashed.
Kael slowly drew his sword.
"...Let's help."
Draven already had an arrow nocked.
"Right behind you."
Without hesitation, both charged into battle.
One wounded soldier stumbled backward as a Lizard-man raised its spear.
Before the monster could strike—
CLANG!
Kael intercepted the attack with his shield.
The force pushed him back several steps.
The Lizard-man hissed before launching another thrust.
Kael deflected it.
With one swift movement, his sword flashed.
The creature collapsed.
The injured soldier stared in disbelief.
"T-Thank you..."
Kael offered him a hand.
"Fall back."
The soldier nodded before retreating toward the rear lines.
Elsewhere...
Draven had already climbed onto a ruined stone wall.
From his elevated position, his bow became terrifyingly accurate.
Twang!
An arrow pierced a Lizard-man's throat.
Another arrow struck a second monster through its eye.
A third arrow saved a young knight moments before she was overwhelmed.
Draven never stopped moving.
Every shot found its target.
The battle raged endlessly.
Kael found himself surrounded.
Three Lizard-men attacked simultaneously.
One swung a curved sword.
Another thrust a spear.
The third attempted to slash from behind.
Kael instinctively ducked beneath the sword swing.
He grabbed the spear with his shield, twisting it aside before kicking the wielder square in the chest.
The creature staggered.
Kael stepped forward.
One clean slash.
It fell.
The remaining two attacked together.
Steel rang across the battlefield.
Kael blocked.
Countered.
Dodged.
Struck.
Every movement reflected years of relentless training under Rorik.
His sword danced without hesitation.
Within moments...
Both enemies collapsed.
He barely had time to breathe before another wave appeared.
Not far away...
Draven's arrows had become the backbone of several exhausted soldiers.
Whenever someone found themselves cornered...
An arrow would suddenly appear.
Every shot bought another life.
One captain shouted loudly,
"Protect the archer!"
Several soldiers immediately formed a defensive circle around him.
Draven smiled slightly.
"Much appreciated."
His fingers never stopped drawing arrows.
Hours seemed to pass.
The battlefield only became bloodier.
Bodies of soldiers and Lizard-men covered the ground alike.
Unlike previous battles...
Neither side enjoyed a clear advantage.
Every Lizard-man slain seemed to be replaced by another.
Every victory came with another fallen comrade.
Kael looked around while catching his breath.
He silently counted.
More soldiers had fallen than he wanted to admit.
Likewise...
The Lizard-men had paid an equally terrible price.
It was no longer a battle.
It had become a war of endurance.
A soldier suddenly screamed.
"They're breaking through!"
Kael turned.
Nearly twenty Lizard-men charged toward a group of wounded healers.
Without thinking...
He sprinted.
Draven noticed immediately.
"I'll cover you!"
Arrow after arrow flew overhead.
Several monsters collapsed before reaching Kael.
The remaining ones met him head-on.
Kael lowered his stance.
His sword moved like flowing water.
One slash.
Two.
Three.
His kicks disrupted enemy formations.
His shield blocked incoming blades.
Even when wounded...
He refused to retreat.
One Lizard-man managed to cut across his shoulder.
Blood trickled down his arm.
Kael ignored it.
Another lunged.
He stepped aside.
A quick elbow shattered its jaw before his sword pierced its chest.
The healers stared with widened eyes.
One whispered,
"He's only Rank Two..."
Another nodded.
"...Yet he's fighting like a veteran."
As the sun slowly descended toward the western horizon, the battlefield finally began to quiet.
The remaining Lizard-men gradually retreated into the distant forests.
Those still alive carried away their wounded.
The exhausted soldiers offered no pursuit.
They simply lacked the strength.
Silence slowly settled over the battlefield.
Only groans of pain remained.
Kael leaned heavily against his sword.
His breathing had become ragged.
Draven walked over.
"You alright?"
Kael forced a smile.
"Barely."
Draven laughed weakly.
"Same."
The two immediately began helping the wounded.
Several soldiers could no longer walk.
Kael lifted one onto his shoulders.
Draven supported another.
Others formed makeshift stretchers using broken spears and blankets.
The long journey back toward the capital was painfully slow.
The wounded cried in agony.
Healers desperately used whatever little mana they still possessed.
Some soldiers never made it back.
Kael quietly closed the eyes of one young knight who passed away during the journey.
He said nothing.
There were no words appropriate enough.
By the time they reached the capital, darkness had already begun to blanket the city.
The surviving soldiers were escorted directly toward the medical district.
Doctors hurried outside.
Among them, Kael briefly recognized several assistants from Dr. Elara's Research Center rushing to receive the wounded.
Watching the healers work tirelessly reminded him of his mother.
"I hope she's alright..."
Draven looked toward him.
"Thinking about your mother?"
Kael nodded.
"She'll probably be treating patients all night."
Draven sighed.
"Doctors fight their own kind of battle."
Kael silently agreed.
The two friends eventually returned to the Adventurer's Guild.
Despite the late hour, the guild remained open.
Brunhilde looked relieved the moment she saw them.
"You made it back."
"We completed the assignment," Kael reported.
Brunhilde quickly noted everything in her records before handing them a small pouch of coins.
"I'm sorry..."
"The reward isn't much."
"The kingdom is spending nearly all its funds supporting the war."
Kael accepted the pouch without complaint.
"We understand."
Draven smiled.
"Helping people is reward enough."
Brunhilde's tired expression softened.
"I truly hope this war ends soon."
"So do we."
Outside...
The streets had become unusually quiet.
Most shops had already closed.
The city seemed emotionally exhausted.
Neither Kael nor Draven felt like talking.
Their bodies ached.
Their muscles screamed in protest with every step.
After finally reaching home...
Both immediately gathered clean clothes.
"I'm taking the bath first," Kael muttered.
"Go ahead," Draven answered with a yawn.
The warm water washed away dirt...
Sweat...
Blood...
And exhaustion.
Yet strangely...
Kael still felt unusually tired.
After drying himself, he quietly entered his room.
Without even changing into proper sleepwear...
He collapsed onto his bed.
Within seconds...
Sleep claimed him.
Darkness.
Silence.
Cold.
Kael slowly opened his eyes.
He found himself standing alone in the middle of an endless forest.
Snow covered everything.
The towering trees were draped in thick white blankets.
An icy wind howled endlessly through the branches.
Kael instinctively wrapped his arms around himself.
His clothes were soaked from the falling snow.
Every breath escaped his mouth as white mist.
"So... cold..."
He looked around.
Nothing.
No roads.
No houses.
No people.
Only endless snow.
His stomach growled loudly.
"Hungry too..."
He began walking.
Each step sank deeply into the snow.
His boots had already become soaked.
His fingers slowly lost feeling.
Still...
He continued walking.
"I need shelter..."
"I need food..."
"I need fire..."
Minutes...
Or perhaps hours...
Passed.
Time itself seemed meaningless inside the frozen forest.
Suddenly...
Movement.
Far ahead...
A beautiful white Snow Antelope quietly grazed beneath a pine tree.
Kael's eyes widened.
"Food..."
His instincts immediately took over.
Slowly...
Carefully...
He crouched behind a nearby tree.
Without making the slightest sound...
He reached over his shoulder and quietly pulled out his bow.
His breathing became steady.
One arrow.
Draw.
Aim.
The antelope remained unaware.
Kael waited patiently.
The wind shifted.
Now.
The bowstring snapped forward.
The arrow sliced cleanly through the freezing air.
A moment later...
The antelope collapsed into the snow.
Kael exhaled deeply.
"I got it..."
He hurried forward, dragging the animal toward a sheltered clearing between several large rocks.
There, he gently placed it on the ground.
"Now..."
"I need fire..."
Looking around, he gathered fallen branches and dry twigs buried beneath the snow.
Soon...
A small pile of firewood stood before him.
Kael searched his pockets.
Only two rough stones.
He picked them up.
"If I can make sparks..."
He struck them together.
Clack.
Nothing.
Again.
Clack.
A tiny spark appeared.
His eyes lit up with hope.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Tiny sparks scattered into the cold air...
...but none caught the wood.
Kael frowned.
He continued striking the stones together.
The cold intensified.
His fingers trembled violently.
His breathing became heavier.
His legs slowly lost strength.
Still...
He refused to stop.
"I..."
"...won't..."
"...give up..."
The stones struck together again.
And again.
Tiny sparks briefly illuminated the frozen darkness.
But the fire refused to ignite.
Kael gritted his teeth.
Even as numbness spread through his hands...
Even as the freezing wind threatened to consume him...
He continued trying.
Because giving up meant death.