The air inside Aldric's fort was thick with tension, as though the very walls were holding their breath in anticipation of what would come next. Kael walked beside the once-great general, his steps measured, though his mind raced. The fortress was far more modest than the strongholds Kael had known in his youth—its stone walls were crumbling, its banners faded and torn. It was a symbol of what remained after the war—broken and weary.
Elara, who had accompanied Kael inside, kept a close eye on Aldric as they moved deeper into the fort. Her intuition was often sharp, and though she trusted Kael's decision, she could sense something amiss.
As they reached a central chamber, Aldric gestured toward a rough wooden table with a few chairs surrounding it. "Sit, if you wish," he said gruffly, seating himself across from Kael and Elara. A map lay spread across the table, marking the territories that had once been part of Kael's father's kingdom.
For a moment, silence hung in the air, neither side willing to speak first. Finally, Kael broke the quiet.
"Why did you betray him?" Kael's voice was firm but low, filled with a blend of old hurt and restrained anger. He couldn't bring himself to look at Aldric without feeling the weight of his father's memory pressing down on him.
Aldric's eyes darkened, and he let out a deep breath, the weight of years bearing down on him. "You think I wanted to betray your father? That I woke up one day and decided to switch sides?"
"Then why did you?" Kael shot back, his voice rising despite himself. "You were one of his most trusted generals. And when the enemy was at our gates, you turned your back on him. You turned your back on all of us."
Aldric's gaze met Kael's, the fire in his eyes now mixed with something else—regret. "I did what I thought was right at the time. The enemy was stronger than we knew. There were forces in play that none of us could have foreseen. I... I made a choice to save what was left, rather than see everything burn."
Kael's jaw tightened. He had heard similar excuses before, but something about Aldric's tone was different. The man before him wasn't just a hardened warrior anymore. He was someone who had lived with the weight of his choices for years, and it had clearly taken its toll.
Elara, sensing the rising tension, spoke up, her voice calm and measured. "War makes us all make choices we regret. But forgiveness can only be given when the truth is fully known."
Aldric's gaze shifted to Elara, studying her with newfound interest. "You speak as though you've seen battle, healer."
"I've seen enough suffering to understand it," Elara replied. "And I've seen enough wounds to know that some can only be healed with time—and honesty."
Aldric leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his grizzled face. "Your father was a good man, Kael. But he wasn't perfect. He made decisions that cost us dearly, and I disagreed with many of them. I tried to convince him to negotiate, to find a way out of the bloodshed. But he wouldn't listen. He was too proud. So when the tides turned and the enemy offered terms, I took them."
Kael clenched his fists under the table. "You took their terms while our people were slaughtered."
Aldric's eyes flashed with a mix of anger and sorrow. "I took their terms to save what was left! I thought I could keep the kingdom alive, that we could rebuild after the war. But I was wrong. I know that now."
Silence fell once more as the weight of Aldric's words settled over them. Kael's mind swirled with emotions—anger, betrayal, and a creeping sense of understanding he hadn't expected. He had spent years hating Aldric, blaming him for everything that had gone wrong. But now, sitting face-to-face with the man, he could see the burden Aldric carried. It was not so different from his own.
Elara placed a gentle hand on Kael's arm, her touch bringing him back to the present. "The past can't be changed, Kael. But we can choose how we move forward."
Kael exhaled slowly, his anger ebbing. He looked at Aldric, the bitterness in his chest loosening, if only slightly. "What do you want, Aldric? Why are you still here?"
Aldric leaned forward, his gaze intense. "I stayed because I have unfinished business. The war is not over, Kael. The enemy we fought is still out there, regrouping, waiting for the right moment to strike again. I've been watching, gathering what remains of my men, preparing for when that day comes."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "And you think we'll fight alongside you after everything?"
Aldric met his gaze, unwavering. "You want to rebuild your father's kingdom? Then you'll need me. You'll need every ally you can get. Because when the darkness rises again, it won't matter who was on which side of the war. All that will matter is whether we survive."
Kael's mind raced, torn between his mistrust of Aldric and the grim truth of his words. The battles they had faced so far had been fierce, but the true threat still lingered in the shadows, growing stronger by the day. If they didn't unite now, there might be nothing left to fight for when the time came.
He glanced at Elara, her calm presence grounding him once more. She gave him a slight nod, as if encouraging him to take the first step toward what they all knew was necessary.
Kael turned back to Aldric. "You'll have to prove yourself, General. My trust doesn't come easily."
Aldric gave a small, grim smile. "I wouldn't expect it to."
Later that evening, after the tense negotiations had concluded, Elara approached Kael as they prepared to leave the fort.
"You made the right decision," she said softly, her voice carrying a note of hope.
"I hope so," Kael replied, his tone weary. "But I can't help but wonder if this path will lead to redemption—or more betrayal."
Elara placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression gentle. "Time will tell. But remember, Kael, redemption is not just about others. It's about finding peace within yourself."
Kael looked into her eyes, seeing the truth in her words. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of something he hadn't allowed himself to feel—hope.