They returned to the demon base in grim silence.
Zareth's body was carried carefully, yet no amount of care could hide the damage done to him.
When the soldiers laid him down inside a temporary shelter, the surrounding demons stepped back instinctively. Fear crept into their expressions. A captain was dead. Killed outside the camp. He was killed by a human.
The five captains gathered again, the mood heavier than before.
"This can't wait," Valeryss said firmly. "We must inform a commander."
Iskara nodded and reached into his cloak. From an inner pouch, he took out a small, faceted crystal. It was deep purple, swirling with faint light inside, as if mist were trapped within it.
A communication crystal.
He poured mana into it. The crystal glowed brighter, then warmer. Runes flickered across its surface. A low hum filled the air, vibrating through their bones.
