[The Campfire]
The group set up camp in a secluded grove, the fire crackling softly as they prepared their meals. The mood was tense, the weight of their journey pressing down on them. Salah sat by the fire, his hands glowing faintly as he healed a minor injury on one of the elven warriors.
Elf Warrior: smiling "Thank you, Salah. Your magic is truly remarkable."
Salah nodded, his voice filled with humility.
Salah: "It's my duty to help. I'm just glad I can make a difference."
Across the fire, Kael sat alone, his expression unreadable. Salah caught his eye and raised his mug in a silent toast. Kael hesitated before raising his own mug, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
[The Betrayal]
In the dead of night, Salah awoke to the sound of footsteps. He opened his eyes to see Thorgrim standing over him, his expression filled with guilt.
Thorgrim: softly "I'm sorry, healer. But I have no choice."
Before Salah could react, Thorgrim grabbed the map to the Shard's location and bolted into the night. The group awoke in a panic, their voices echoing through the grove.
Lady Asura: sharply "What's going on?"
Salah: urgently "Thorgrim took the map! We have to stop him!"
The group gave chase, their footsteps pounding against the ground as they followed Thorgrim's trail. The dwarf was fast, but the group was determined. They caught up to him at the edge of a ravine, his back against the cliff as he faced them.
Thorgrim: grimly "Stay back! I don't want to hurt you, but I will if I have to."
Salah stepped forward, his hands raised in a gesture of peace.
Salah: "Thorgrim, please. We're on the same side. Whatever you're doing, we can figure it out together."
Thorgrim's expression wavered, but he shook his head.
Thorgrim: "You don't understand. The dwarven elders… they want the Shard for themselves. They think they can control its power, but they're wrong. I have to stop them."
Kael stepped forward, his blade drawn.
Kael: "And you think stealing the map is the way to do that? You're a fool."
Thorgrim's eyes filled with anger, and he lunged at Kael. The two clashed, their blades ringing out in the night. Salah tried to intervene, but Lady Asura held him back.
Lady Asura: firmly "Let them fight. This is between them."
[The Fight]
The fight was intense, Thorgrim's brute strength against Kael's agility and skill. The two moved like shadows, their blades flashing in the moonlight. At one point, Thorgrim managed to disarm Kael, but before he could deliver the final blow, Salah stepped in, his hands glowing with golden light.
Salah: firmly "Enough!"
The light flared, blinding Thorgrim and forcing him to drop his weapon. Kael took the opportunity to tackle him to the ground, pinning him in place.
Kael: sharply "You're done."
Thorgrim struggled for a moment before going still, his expression filled with defeat.
[The Aftermath]
The group returned to camp, Thorgrim bound and under guard. Salah sat by the fire, his hands trembling as he processed what had happened. Kael approached him, his expression unreadable.
Kael: "You're too soft, healer. If you want to survive in this world, you need to be willing to make hard choices."
Salah looked up at him, his eyes filled with determination.
Salah: "Maybe. But I won't abandon my convictions. Not even for you."
Kael studied him for a moment before nodding, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
Kael: "Fair enough."