The morning sun filtered through the dense canopy of trees surrounding the estate, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Kael and Lila were deep in their training when a sudden disturbance caught their attention. Lysander, who had been overseeing their session, straightened, his eyes narrowing.
A group of figures emerged from the forest, clad in the unmistakable garb of the council enforcers. Their leader, a tall, imposing man with a stern expression, stepped forward. His eyes scanned the area, settling on Lysander with a mixture of disdain and determination.
"I am Enforcer Varus," the man announced, his voice carrying an authoritative edge. "I know that Kael and Lila are here. They are wanted by the council for theft and evasion of capture. Surrender them immediately."
Lysander crossed his arms, his demeanor relaxed but his eyes cold. "Yes, they are here. But you can't do anything about it."
Varus's expression darkened, and a murmur of unease rippled through his subordinates. "You dare defy the council?" he demanded, taking a step forward.
Lysander's gaze remained steady. "I do.
And if you try to detain us, you'll regret it."
Varus's face twisted with anger. "You leave me no choice." He signaled to his subordinates, who moved to surround Lysander, Kael, and Lila.
Kael's heart pounded in his chest as the enforcers closed in. He glanced at Lila, who appeared calm and composed, her eyes focused on Lysander. Before Kael could fully process what was happening, Lysander moved & blinding speed.
In a blur of motion, Lysander closed the distance between himself and Varus.
With nothing but physical strength, he delivered a devastating punch to Varus's midsection. The impact was like a thunderclap, lifting Varus off his feet and sending him crashing into a tree. The force of the blow splintered the trunk, and Varus crumpled to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth as he gasped for breath.
The other enforcers reacted immediately, drawing their weapons and rushing at Lysander. But Lysander was like a force of nature. He moved with incredible speed and precision, his fists and feet striking with the power of a sledgehammer.
One enforcer swung a sword at him, but Lysander caught the blade with his bare hand, the metal bending and shattering under his grip. He ripped the weapon from the enforcer's grasp and used it to strike him down, a blow crushing the enforcer's skull with a sickening crack.
Another enforcer attempted to cast a spell, but Lysander was on him in an instant, his fist connecting with the man's jaw. The impact was so powerful that it twisted the enforcer's neck with a
gruesome snap, sending him sprawling lifeless to the ground.
Kael watched in stunned silence as
Lysander systematically dismantled the enforcers. Each blow he delivered was lethal, his strength overwhelming. The ground shook with the force of their battle, the air filled with the sounds of shattering bones and cries of pain.
One of the enforcers tried to flee, but Lysander caught him by the leg, swinging him like a rag doll and smashing him into a nearby boulder. The enforcer's body crumpled, lifeless, leaving a bloody smear on the rock.
Within moments, it was over. The enforcers lay motionless on the ground, their bodies broken and lifeless. Lysander stood amidst the carnage, his breathing steady, his expression unchanged.
Kael's heart raced, his mind struggling to process what he had just witnessed. He had known Lysander was powerful, but this display of raw, brutal strength was beyond anything he had imagined. The reality of their situation crashed down on him, the knowledge that they were in a fight for their lives, with no room for mercy.
Lila approached Lysander, her expression calm and unperturbed. "That was impressive," she said simply.
Lysander nodded, wiping the blood from his hands. "It had to be done. The council won't stop until they get what they want."
Kael felt a wave of nausea wash over him.
The sight of the lifeless bodies, the smell of blood in the air, and the cold efficiency with which Lysander had killed them all hit him hard. He turned away, struggling to regain his composure.
"Kael," Lila said softly, approaching him.
"Are you okay?"
Kael shook his head, his voice trembling.
"I... I don't know if I can do this. Killing, it's... it's not what I came here for."
Lila's expression softened, but there was a hardness in her eyes. "I understand. But sometimes, you have no choice. I've killed before. It's not easy, but it's necessary. We're fighting for our lives, Kael. We can't afford to hesitate."
Kael looked at her, shock and confusion evident on his face. "You've killed before?"
Lila nodded, her gaze unwavering. "Yes.
And I'll do it again if I have to. We're in a war, Kael. It's cruel, but it's the reality we face."
As the gravity of her words sank in, Kael felt a deep sense of dread. He had come to Eldrin to escape the cruelty of his family, to find a new path. But now, he was being drawn into a world of violence and death, a world he wasn't sure he could navigate.
That night, as he lay in his bed, Kael's mind raced with thoughts of the future.
The memory of the fight replayed in his head, the sight of the dead enforcers haunting his dreams. He knew that if he wanted to survive, he might have to kill.
But the thought of taking another life filled him with fear and doubt.
Lila's words echoed in his mind, a stark reminder of the harsh reality they faced.
He admired her strength and resolve, but he wasn't sure if he could follow the same path. The weight of his choices pressed down on him, the future a dark and uncertain road.
Kael knew he had to decide soon. The battle for Eldrin was far from over, and he couldn't afford to be indecisive. But as he stared at the ceiling, the moonlight casting shadows on the walls, he felt a deep sense of conflict. The journey ahead was fraught with danger, and he had to find the strength to face it.