Chapter 5 – The Weight of Silence
Dawn was barely stretching over Aerion, and a light mist hovered above the clearings. The camp of the four heroes finally settled in a small, secluded glade, surrounded by pine trees whose trembling needles danced in the morning breeze. The air was damp, blending earth, moss, and the scent of the woods — a mix that would usually soothe the senses, but Kael felt none of it.
The day had been long and fruitless. The greater demon they were tracking in the Obrath Valley had vanished like a breath. The caravans they were protecting remained untouched, but a bitter taste lingered in the air, and each breath felt heavy with the certainty of an unseen threat. Kael leaned against a trunk, eyes lost in the fragile fire they had lit.
Thane pulled out some dried fruits from his satchel and handed them out with his usual simplicity. No unnecessary words, no theatrical gestures — just a measured act, deeply human. Lyric sat on a stump, his gaze absent, lost in the shifting shadows of the fire, while his fingers absentmindedly played with the hilt of his sword. Erya approached slowly, hands stretched toward the flickering flames, letting their warmth caress her fingers like a fragile comfort.
Kael watched them all in silence, noting every detail, every micro-expression. The fatigue in Thane's movements, the nervousness hidden behind Lyric's humor, Erya's gentle unease… It all spoke to him. Every gesture reminded him of their first missions, their awkward laughter, the naïve promises they had made. Now, all of it felt so fragile, so distant. He knew what awaited them. They didn't.
— Do you remember our first mission in the Ashen Mountains? murmured Erya, her voice trembling with nostalgia. I thought we'd never make it out…
— How could I forget? replied Thane, a faint smile cracking his stoic façade. You threw yourself into danger without thinking.
— And I… added Lyric, his gaze lost in the flames, his voice trembling despite his attempt at detachment. I panicked… but you were there. You gave me confidence.
Kael clenched his fists, heart tight. Each word was a flame in his inner night, a reminder of what he had to protect — and what he might lose. Behind those smiles, he already saw the specter of the end approaching. He wanted to tell them the truth, reveal the threat looming over them, but the words stuck in his throat. So he remained silent, engraving each face, each gesture, each smile into his memory.
The fire crackled, casting dancing shadows on the trees and their faces. Lyric gave a mock dramatic yawn, but Kael could read the worry in his eyes that he tried to hide. Erya, for her part, watched Kael with concerned attention, her furrowed brows betraying her desire to understand what tormented him. Even Thane, usually so impassive, threw calculated glances at Kael, as if assessing the state of his friend and comrade.
When night fully settled, wrapping the glade in a dark, silent cloak, Kael stood. He left behind the dying fire, his sleeping companions, and ventured into the forest. The wind whistled between the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and something older, almost metallic — the taste of blood and war. Each step echoed like a silent vow, each breath a reminder of the fragility of life around him.
Then he saw it. Hidden in the shadows, the greater demon stood there, its misshapen body and glowing red eyes betraying the intelligence behind its monstrosity. Kael advanced without a tremble, every muscle tense, every movement calculated. His breathing was deep, steady, but each heartbeat pounded in his head like a hammer, reminding him that failure was not an option.
— Where is your master? he murmured, his voice icy, sharp as a blade.
The demon tried to flee, but Kael was already upon it. With precise, methodical movements, he subdued it — no anger, only necessity. The ground shook with the impact. His fist closed around the creature's throat, and he felt its fear, its survival instinct, everything that betrayed its soul. Kael didn't smile. He felt no pleasure, no hatred — only absolute focus and control.
— Speak, he repeated, voice low but unwavering. Where is the Demon King?
The creature finally gave in, its broken voice betraying terror:
— …He awaits you… where it all began…
Kael etched those words into his memory, knowing every second mattered. Then, with a swift and final gesture, he ended the demon's life. The body collapsed into the moss, and the forest returned to silence.
But Kael remained still, trembling slightly despite his control, heart ablaze with the certainty of the path he had to follow. Then he heard a rustle behind him. Slowly, he turned — and saw Erya. Her eyes, wide and incredulous, had seen everything: the icy resolve, the controlled violence, the solitude he wore like armor. Their gazes met in a silent exchange, full of questions and unspoken truths. She vanished into the shadows without a word, but Kael understood: she would understand, one day. When there was nothing left to save.
Back at the fire, he sat down, his gaze empty, hands clasped. His companions still slept, peaceful and unaware of the burden he carried. Their world remained intact. He… he already bore the weight of the night.
— I must become stronger… he murmured. I must save them… no matter the cost.
The dying embers cast a flickering light on his face, revealing the fading shadows of his humanity. In the wind, he thought he heard the whisper of the souls he had to protect — a silent promise that, despite everything, he would keep.
And as the night spread over the forest of Aerion, Kael rose, ready to face destiny.
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