The air in the cave was thick with tension. Silas stood at the chamber's entrance, his eyes gleaming. He stepped forward slowly, his gaze sweeping the room, though he spared no glance for Kael. It was as if Kael didn't exist to him, a non-factor in the grander scheme of things.
Kerric, standing beside the relic, stiffened as Silas approached. His face was pale, his body shaking, not just from his injuries but from the internal battle raging within him.
Silas's voice was calm, steady, as though he had complete control of the situation. "Kerric, you've done well to come this far. You've always been loyal, dependable. Now, all that remains is for you to hand over the relic."
Kael clenched his jaw, his grip tightening around his sword. He could feel Silas's cold dismissal, the way he didn't even acknowledge his presence. The longer Silas spoke, the more Kael's anger burned inside him. He might be injured and outnumbered, but he wouldn't stand by while Silas manipulated Kerric.
"I'm not letting you walk away with that relic," Kael growled, stepping forward despite the pain coursing through his body. His voice cut through the tension, sharp and defiant. "You think you can just take it? I won't let that happen."
Silas's eyes flicked briefly toward Kael, his expression one of mild annoyance. "You're still here?" he said, his tone laced with disdain. "You're in over your head, mercenary."
Kael's grip on his sword tightened, but he didn't back down. "Kerric's not handing it over to you."
Kerric glanced at Kael, surprise flashing in his eyes. For a moment, Kael thought he saw a flicker of relief, as if Kerric was grateful for someone speaking up for him, but the conflict still weighed heavily on his face.
Silas's dismissive gaze returned to Kerric, as if Kael's words had no weight. "You know what needs to be done, Kerric. Don't listen to him."
Kerric's chest heaved, his breath ragged. He had followed Silas's orders for years, driven by duty, by love, by the sense of obligation that had chained him to Silas's family. But now, with the relic so close, with the weight of everything he had done pressing down on him, Kerric hesitated.
Kael, watching from the side, could see it, the conflict tearing Kerric apart. He didn't know the full extent of Kerric's past, but he knew that whatever choice Kerric made now would determine everything.
Silas's voice remained steady, unyielding. "You've always done what was necessary, Kerric. Don't start doubting now. Don't let him get into your head."
Kerric's eyes flicked to Kael, who stood firmly, his expression defiant. Silas, sensing Kerric's hesitation, stepped closer, his voice softening to a near whisper. "You're not doing this for me, Kerric. You're doing this for her."
Kerric froze, his face paling even further. The mention of Silas's mother, his former lover, brought back memories, old wounds. Silas knew exactly how to push Kerric, how to remind him of the bonds that had kept him loyal for so long.
Kael's fists clenched. He could see how much power Silas had over Kerric. It was more than just orders,it was emotional manipulation, years of loyalty twisted into something suffocating.
Kael took another step forward, planting himself between Silas and Kerric. He raised his sword, though the effort sent pain shooting through his injured body. "He's not yours to command anymore, Silas."
Silas's eyes flicked to Kael again, this time with a sharper edge. "You think you can stand in my way?" His voice was calm, but there was a cold menace behind his words.
Kael stood his ground. "I don't care who you are. Kerric doesn't owe you anything."
Kerric's gaze flickered between Kael and Silas, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. For a moment, the air felt frozen, the tension unbearable.
Silas stepped closer, his expression hardening. "You're a fool if you think you can stop this," he said, his voice low. "This relic belongs to me. It always has."
Kael's heart pounded, but he didn't lower his sword. "Not while I'm standing here."
Kerric's hand trembled as he reached toward the relic, his fingers brushing against its surface. The power radiating from it sent a shiver down his spine. But he didn't take it. His hand hovered, his mind racing.
Silas took another step forward, his voice low. "We need this, Kerric. You need this. Don't make a mistake now."
Kerric's hand dropped to his side, his body shaking with the weight of his decision. The guilt, the fear, the memories of Silas's mother, they all churned inside him, making it impossible to think clearly. But deep down, something had shifted. The years of loyalty, the years of following orders without question, they suddenly felt hollow.
"I can't do it," Kerric whispered, his voice barely audible.
The room fell into a tense silence. Silas stared at Kerric, his eyes narrowing. The soldiers behind him shifted uneasily, sensing the change in his demeanor.
Kael's pulse quickened. He could feel the danger building in the room, the tension ready to snap. Silas wasn't used to being defied, especially not by someone like Kerric.
Silas took another step forward, his voice low and dangerous. "You're making a mistake, Kerric."
Kerric didn't move, his body rigid with fear, but his resolve was clear. "I won't give it to you."
For the first time, Silas's eyes flicked fully to Kael, a sharp, disdainful look crossing his face. "You think you can protect him?"
Kael's heart pounded as Silas's gaze lingered on him for a brief moment, cold and dismissive. But then Silas's attention shifted back to the relic. He wasn't going to argue. He wasn't going to give Kerric another chance.