Chapter 64: The Return
The return to Calista's camp was far from triumphant. The rescued villagers trailed behind Alex like broken shadows, their eyes hollow from loss, their steps slow from exhaustion. The setting sun cast long, bloody streaks across the sky, the fading light making the camp ahead look like an ominous fortress. Smoke from campfires mingled with the metallic scent of distant rain, creating an atmosphere heavy with foreboding.
Each step Alex took felt like a challenge. Soldiers patrolled the perimeter, their leather armor creaking as they moved. When one guard spotted Alex, he froze, then called to the others. A ripple of murmurs followed, spreading through the camp like wildfire.
"She's back," someone whispered.
"And she's brought villagers…" another murmured, the disbelief clear.
