The night air was cool as Simon stood on the outer wall, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of Garron and his team. It had been two days since they'd left the stronghold, and every hour that passed without word felt like a stone added to the weight on Simon's chest. He knew the mission was dangerous—Garron and his people were risking everything to gather information on the Architects' movements. But the longer they were gone, the more Simon's worry grew.
Elara joined him on the wall, her footsteps soft against the stone. She leaned against the parapet, her gaze following Simon's to the distant mountains. "They'll be back," she said quietly, her voice barely louder than the wind. "Garron's smart, and he's careful. They know what's at stake."
Simon nodded, but the tension in his shoulders didn't ease. "I know. I just hate the waiting. Every minute they're out there, it feels like we're teetering on the edge of something we can't control." He paused, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the darkened landscape. "And if the Architects are planning something big, we need to know what it is before it's too late."
Elara was silent for a moment, then placed a hand on Simon's arm, her touch warm against the chill of the night. "We're doing everything we can, Simon. You've given these people hope—something to believe in. No matter what happens, we'll face it together."
Simon looked at her, her face lit by the dim light of the torches along the wall. Her eyes were filled with determination, and he felt a flicker of that same resolve within himself. He gave her a small smile. "You're right. We're in this together."
Suddenly, a movement caught Simon's eye—a shadow shifting in the distance. He straightened, his hand going to the hilt of his sword. "There," he said, pointing to the dark figures approaching along the path. "That might be them."
Elara squinted into the darkness, her eyes narrowing. "It looks like it. Come on, let's go meet them."
They hurried down from the wall, moving quickly through the courtyard and toward the gate. The guards, already on high alert, opened the gate just enough to let the figures through. Simon's heart lifted as he recognized Garron at the front of the group, his face lined with exhaustion but his eyes sharp.
"Garron," Simon said, relief washing over him. "You made it back."
Garron nodded, his expression grim. "We did. But we've got news—news you're not going to like." He gestured for Simon and Elara to follow him, his voice low. "We need to talk. Now."
Simon exchanged a glance with Elara, his worry returning in full force. They followed Garron and his team into the council chamber, the atmosphere tense as they gathered around the table. Callan and Darius were already there, waiting for them.
Garron spread out a map on the table, his finger tracing a route that led east, beyond the mountains. "The Architects are building something," he said, his voice grim. "It's not just an outpost or a supply station. It's bigger—much bigger. We saw the foundations, the movement of supplies. They're constructing some kind of fortress."
Simon felt his stomach drop, his eyes fixed on the map. "A fortress? Why? What are they planning?"
Garron shook his head. "We don't know for sure. But they're moving fast, and they've got a lot of resources behind this. Whatever it is, it's important to them. And if they finish it, it could be a game-changer."
Darius leaned over the map, his brow furrowed. "If they're building a fortress, it could mean they're planning to establish a permanent foothold in this region. A place they can launch attacks from, somewhere they can control the surrounding territory."
Elara's eyes narrowed, her expression fierce. "We can't let that happen. If they get entrenched, it'll be nearly impossible to dislodge them. We need to strike before they finish."
Simon nodded, his mind racing. They had fought to protect the stronghold, to keep the Architects from gaining a foothold. If they allowed this fortress to be completed, it would put everything they'd fought for at risk. "We need to act," he said, his voice steady. "We can't let them finish building this fortress. We need to strike now, while they're still vulnerable."
Callan looked at Simon, his expression serious. "It won't be easy. They'll have guards, defenses. And we don't know how many resources they've already put into place."
Simon met Callan's gaze, determination burning in his chest. "We'll take a small team—hit them hard and fast. We don't need to destroy everything, just disrupt their progress enough to set them back. We can't afford to let them get comfortable."
Garron nodded, a hint of a smile on his lips. "My people are ready. We'll go with you, Keeper. We've come this far, and we're not backing down now."
Simon felt a surge of gratitude. He looked around the room, at the faces of those who had chosen to stand beside him—Darius, Elara, Callan, Garron. They had become more than just allies; they were a family, united by a shared purpose and a determination to fight for their future.
"Then it's settled," Simon said, his voice strong. "We leave at first light. We'll hit them before they expect it, and we'll make sure they know that we're not giving up. This is our land, our home, and we're not going to let them take it from us."
The room filled with a sense of resolve, each person focused on the mission ahead. They had faced the Architects before, and they had survived. Now, they would take the fight to them, striking at the heart of their plans and showing them that they would not be intimidated.
As the meeting ended, Simon found himself standing alone in the council chamber, the weight of what lay ahead pressing down on him. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. They had come so far, had fought so hard, and they couldn't afford to falter now.
Elara entered the room, her presence a comforting warmth. She walked up to Simon, her eyes searching his face. "You okay?" she asked softly.
Simon looked at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah," he said. "Just thinking about what's next. It feels like every time we take a step forward, the Architects are there, ready to push us back."
Elara nodded, her gaze steady. "They're trying to break us. But they don't understand—we're not just fighting for ourselves. We're fighting for everyone who's been hurt by them, everyone who's lost something. And that's why we'll win. Because we have something worth fighting for."
Simon reached out, taking her hand in his. Her words were like a beacon, cutting through the uncertainty that threatened to overwhelm him. "You're right. And as long as we have that, we'll keep going. We'll keep fighting."
Elara smiled, her eyes filled with warmth. "Together."
Simon nodded, his heart filled with resolve. "Together," he echoed.
As dawn approached, Simon looked out over the stronghold, the sky beginning to lighten with the promise of a new day. The road ahead was uncertain, and the danger was real, but they were not alone. They had each other, they had allies, and they had hope. And as long as they had that, they would keep fighting—no matter what came next.