Zhavros finished his story with an unexpected calm. "And basically, that's all the story I have to tell," he said firmly.
We had been listening in complete silence. Even Nymira, who was usually in a constant state of excitement, had stayed attentive, along with the rest of the group.
Aelira was the first to speak.
"Now I understand why you couldn't join the battle," she said, with a look of understanding on her face. "I completely get it."
I nodded slightly, feeling the need to speak. "It's incredible what you and Eldrek have gone through." My eyes turned to Zhavros. "I misjudged you, Zhavros. You went through terrible moments. I thought you weren't committed, but… I see I was wrong."
Zhavros returned my gaze calmly but said nothing. Then, Lyris, with a touch of sarcasm, chimed in with a slight smile. "I guess the story of how you got your magic back will be for another time, right?"
Zhavros smiled—that almost impenetrable smile of his—but this time, there was a touch of sincerity in his eyes. "Yes, I've talked enough for now. If we manage to get out of the battle unscathed, maybe then I can continue with that part of the story."
Lyris nodded, satisfied with the answer. The tense atmosphere began to ease.
Nymira, who seemed to have regained her usual energy, couldn't hold back any longer.
"But now we have you back, grumpy, with all your skills! So this time we'll come out victorious, right?" She said with her usual enthusiasm, a spark of hope shining in her eyes.
Zhavros looked at her, and for a moment, his hardened expression softened. "Of course, kid," he said, with a confidence that left no room for doubt. "You'll see how I'll kick all their asses."
Nymira beamed from ear to ear, satisfied with his response. It was as if that spark of hope had ignited something in all of us. The path ahead would be difficult, but Zhavros's tale had given us something we all needed: perspective and, in a way, strength.
Eldrek, who had been sitting with a neutral expression throughout the story, stood up with a decisive movement. "It's time to prepare to march," he said, his voice filling the space with authority. "We have a long journey ahead. We'll meet with Vaelor, and then..." He paused, looking at each of us with a firm, determined tone.
"We will triumph."
"Of course we will!" exclaimed Nymira, jumping to her feet, always the first to raise her voice with energy.
I couldn't help but smile at her boundless energy. With Zhavros, Eldrek, and the whole group, there was a renewed hope.
Everyone stood up and began gathering their things. We loaded our weapons and supplies onto the carriage, and before leaving, we took one last look at the place that had offered us good moments and valuable lessons. Zhavros took the reins, and the salamanders began to run, steady as ever.
On the road, Eldrek mentioned that the meeting point was almost two days away, and he hoped it would be a calm journey.
"I trust the path will be clear," said Aelira in her characteristic analytical tone. "The creatures that usually roam these areas have likely been summoned, either by Grimmor or the dark being. One of them must be controlling them."
I listened to her words and nodded to myself in silence. While the others discussed possible attack strategies, I approached Aelira and sat beside her. There was something on my mind that made me anxious, and I needed to talk about it with someone who'd understand.
"Do you think I'll be ready to fight without losing control?" I asked her in a low voice, far enough from the others so they wouldn't overhear.
Aelira looked at me for a moment, and then, with the calm seriousness she radiated, offered some advice: "You have to prepare for what's coming, Darius. On the battlefield, the intensity will be overwhelming, and you'll be more susceptible to losing control. That's when you'll need to stay more focused than ever."
She paused before continuing. "Remember the training we did, especially the first phase. Now, during the journey, you'll have time to practice it. And don't worry, I have faith in you, and I'll be here to help if you need it."
I thanked her deeply. "Thank you, Aelira. Really... I don't know what I'd do without your guidance."
Nymira, who seemed to be lurking for a chance to join the conversation, came over smiling. "Isn't she the best teacher ever?" she exclaimed, with that characteristic sparkle in her eyes.
I couldn't help but smile back at her. "Yes, Nymira. The best of them all."
Aelira chuckled softly, and the mood lightened for a moment. As we traveled, we confirmed that Aelira had been right. We didn't encounter any creatures on the road, which made us think the dark being's forces were likely concentrated elsewhere, preparing something big.
I used the time we had left to practice what I had learned with Aelira. I felt I'd improved in sensing the limit of the chaos I could control, but I couldn't shake the worry over what she had said. The intensity of a real battle could push me beyond that limit, and that was what scared me the most.
We only stopped briefly during the night to rest. Then, after several hours of travel, Zhavros, who always seemed to have a good joke ready, alerted us from the reins.
"Hey, look ahead! Our friends and their birdies are already waiting for us."
Ahead, Vaelor and his riders were gathered, along with other warriors who would join us on foot. Seeing them there, waiting, gave us a sense of relief. The fact that they were already in position filled us with confidence.
When we arrived, we all got down from the carriage to greet them. Vaelor immediately approached, warmly greeting Eldrek before turning to us.
"I'm glad to see you've arrived safely," he said, and I took the opportunity to ask something that had been on my mind since we'd parted ways.
"Did you manage to find a new place to settle your tribe?"
Vaelor nodded with a weary smile. "Yes, although it wasn't easy. We had to find a safe place with clean water. Without it, we couldn't restart farming."
Lyris, always attentive to details, commented with genuine relief. "I'm glad you found a place."
Vaelor nodded again and then asked us, "And what's the plan?"
Before anyone could answer, some figures approached from the skies. Everyone tensed immediately, except Aelira, who remained calm.
"Relax," she said in a soft tone. "They're allies."
As they got closer, we recognized three Aasimar: two men and one woman. Aelira explained that she had managed to contact some of those who had survived the previous battle, and that they would be joining us in this crucial moment.
The news was met with joy and positive remarks. When the Aasimar landed, they approached Aelira and greeted her respectfully before introducing themselves to the group. The two men were named Thalvion and Kaedor, and the woman, Lyastra. They didn't need long introductions; their celestial presence spoke for itself.
Vaelor, full of enthusiasm, added, "On the way here, I managed to communicate with some small remaining tribes. I told them about our mission and convinced them to join us. They should be arriving soon."
Eldrek, visibly surprised by the good news, nodded approvingly. "This is better than I expected," he said, showing a rare hint of enthusiasm.
Zhavros, true to his style, made a comment: "Well, finally some good news. Now we just need the enemies to greet us with a tray of sweets."
The group burst into laughter, easing the tension a bit. While we waited for the new allies to arrive, we gathered to plan our strategy. Eldrek spoke first, emphasizing the importance of being coordinated on the battlefield.
"Each of you has a unique skill. We'll need everyone to stay alert to their surroundings and to each other's moves. Only by working together can we overcome what lies ahead."
Then he handed it over to Aelira, who shared some valuable details from her previous experience fighting alongside the Aasimar. She didn't go into great detail, but it was enough for everyone to understand the gravity of the situation. We couldn't repeat the mistakes made in the last battle.
Gradually, the allied tribes began to arrive, totaling a bit over four hundred warriors who would advance on foot, along with ten drake riders, four Aasimar, a giant, Lyris and Nymira, two formidable wielders of light magic, and a demented hybrid—but a skilled one. Not bad, I thought.
After introductions, they joined the group to get caught up on the strategy. Everyone contributed, offering ideas on how to adapt to what we might face, and the planning began to take shape.
Looking around, I approached Lyris and whispered to her, "Look around, Lyris. Do you realize how many we are?"
Lyris nodded with a confident smile. "Yes, grandpa. I think we have a good chance of winning."
I nodded firmly, casting one last look at the incredible warriors who had gathered.
With everything organized, everyone took their place in the group. Like a well-structured army, we began moving through the desert terrain, advancing toward the impending confrontation. The atmosphere was tense, but there was also a new energy in the air.
Zhavros, from the carriage, surprised everyone with an unexpected burst of enthusiasm.
"We can't fail!" he shouted loudly, something I'd never expected from him. "Stay strong and communicate at all times. The enemy will try to divide us—don't forget that."
I was taken aback by this sudden change in his attitude. Zhavros? The same man who used to be the most cynical and distant in the group now seemed to lead us with a renewed spirit.
Undoubtedly, sharing his story must have brought him closer to everyone. It was as if, by opening up, he had let a part of us into his world.
Nymira, always observant, made a comment with a laugh. "I think he's stopped being a grump." Her tone was full of joy. "I'm glad to see him like this."
Zhavros didn't take long to fire back, in his usual tone. "Of course not, kid," he said, not even looking away from the road. "I'm still the same idiot as always."
And then, as if to break the solemnity, he added while patting the salamanders pulling the carriage: "Besides, we have these salamanders looking after us. There's no better creature than these."
The salamanders, as if they understood perfectly what Zhavros was saying, turned their heads toward him with an expression that, if they weren't beasts, I could have sworn was friendly.
Sometimes I was surprised at how they seemed to sync with him. There was no doubt Zhavros had a special bond with those creatures, something the rest of us couldn't quite understand.
The desert terrain under our feet began to change color as we neared the battlefield. The tension in the air grew heavier. The fight was just around the corner. We all knew it, and although we tried to keep our spirits high, what was coming filled me with anxiety and set my nerves on edge.