Athisa closed his eyes and let his senses sink into the magic. Samreth watched his face tighten.
"There's something pushing from the outside," he whispered."A group. Maybe six… no, eight people. They're looking for shelter, but—"Hiis voice shook."They're being chased."
Samreth's heart tightened. "By soldiers?"
"No." he opened her eyes."Worse."
A cold wind swept across the beach.
From the forest trail, Samreth saw movement—shadows running along the coastline far, far beyond the veil. People. Dirty. Exhausted. Desperate.
A wounded woman carried a younger boy on her back. An older man limped with a stick. Another woman held a baby pressed to her chest.
Even from the island, Samreth could hear their cries.
"They're… begging," he whispered.
Athisa's hands trembled.
"The veil only lets in those who truly need safety," he said."But if something threatens them directly—"he swallowed hard."—it weakens the barrier."
Samreth turned sharply. "So the danger chasing them—"
"—is strong enough to affect the magic."
The stray dog kira burst out of the trees and sprinted to the shore, barking aggressively toward the horizon.
He sensed it too.
Athisa knelt down and grabbed Kira's face gently.
"Tell me," he whispered.
His magic flared softly as he tapped into the strange language only he could understand.
Kira whimpered, tail low.Then a soft sound escaped him—an anxious, terrified howl.
Athisa's face paled.
"What did he say?" Samreth asked.
Athisa turned to him slowly.
"It's not soldiers," she whispered."It's the Black Patrol."
Samreth froze.
Everyone in Cambodia's darkest history knew that name—the special units that hunted rebels, wiped out villages, and moved like shadows. If the normal patrols were cruel…
The Black Patrol was death itself.
Athisa pressed his hands to the veil.It flickered violently—like a flame fighting wind.
"They can't get in…" he whispered."The spell won't open fully unless they're close enough."
Samreth looked out at the survivors still running from far away.
"If we wait," he said quietly, "they'll be caught."
Athisa's breath shook.
"To open the veil manually," he said slowly, "I have to weaken it from inside."
Samreth turned sharply. "What happens if you do that?"
His silence said everything.
He stepped in front of him."No."
"Samreth—"
"No!" His voice cracked. "Every time you use too much magic, you collapse. Your body… your mind… I almost lost you twice already."
He held his face gently."But if we don't help them, they die."
He shook his head, tears burning.
"Athisa… I can't lose you again."
His own eyes glistened."You won't."
But hs voice trembled.
🌬️ he Opens the Veil
Athisa closed his eyes and lifted his hands.
The mist roared like a storm. The entire beach glowed with silver light. The ground vibrated, sand swirling around their feet.
Kira pressed against Samreth's leg, whining.
Samreth grabbed Athisa's waist, trying to anchor him.
"Athisa, stop—"
"It's okay," he whispered."I'm right here."
Light exploded outward.
The veil tore open like a glowing doorway.
Far beyond, the survivors suddenly looked up. They saw it—hope. Light. Salvation.
They ran toward the opening.
Athisa's knees buckled.
Samreth caught him before he fell.
"Athisa! Look at me—stay awake!"
But his eyes were dimming, his breath shallow, her skin cold.
"I'm fine…" he whispered weakly."I just… need… a moment…"
His body started to collapse in his arms.
As the last survivor stumbled through the veil, Samreth looked up—
Dark uniforms.Black masks.Guns.
Eight figures appeared on the horizon.
Samreth held Athisa tightly, heart pounding.
The veil thundered behind him—struggling to close, fighting to repair itself.
Athisa whispered weakly:
"Samreth… don't let them see the opening… please…"
And then his eyes rolled back, and she collapsed fully in his arms.
Samreth lifted him, carrying him away from the shoreline as the veil tried desperately to close behind them.
Kira barked, standing guard.
Survivors cried, terrified.
The Black Patrol marched closer…closer…closer…
And the veil flickered one last time—
before slamming shut.
But the patrol had seen something.A glow.A shape.A hint.