A week passed as they prepared for the first strike against the kingdom's soldiers. Ayla spent her days gathering supplies and mapping out the soldiers' patrol routes, her heart pounding each time she crept close to their camp. Kai was always nearby, offering advice and encouragement, but he never took over. This was her mission, and he seemed intent on letting her lead.
Finally, the night came. The air was thick with tension as Ayla and her group moved silently through the forest, staying low as they approached the soldiers' supply tent. Their plan was simple: destroy as much of their food and water stores as possible, leaving the soldiers weakened and frustrated.
Ayla's heart raced as they reached the edge of the camp. She glanced back at her group, catching their anxious expressions in the dim moonlight. She took a deep breath, steadying herself, and gave the signal to move forward.
They slipped through the camp, their footsteps muffled by the soft earth. Ayla felt a surge of adrenaline as they reached the supply tent. She and her companions worked quickly, slashing sacks of grain and spilling water barrels. Every noise made her heart leap, but they managed to work undetected.
As they finished, Ayla turned to leave but a flash of movement caught her eye. A soldier stood just a few paces away, his eyes widening as he took in the scene. Panic surged through her, but before she could react, Kai appeared out of nowhere, his blade glinting in the moonlight. With a swift, silent movement, he disarmed the soldier, knocking him unconscious before he could raise the alarm.
Ayla stared at Kai, her heart pounding. "You saved us."
Kai gave a quick nod, his eyes scanning the area. "We're not out of this yet. Move."
They slipped back into the shadows, disappearing into the forest as the soldiers' camp erupted in chaos behind them. Ayla could hear the shouts and frantic footsteps as the soldiers discovered the damage, but she kept running, her breath coming in quick gasps.
When they finally reached the safety of the village outskirts, Ayla allowed herself to catch her breath. Her companions were grinning, the thrill of victory in their eyes. But her gaze went to Kai, who was watching her with an unreadable expression.
"You did well," he said quietly. "But you need to be careful. One misstep, and it could have gone very differently."
Ayla nodded, the reality of the danger settling in. "I know. But I had to do something. I can't keep hiding."
Kai's gaze softened, and he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Just don't lose yourself in the fight. This kind of life… it changes you."
For a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of his words lingering between them. Ayla realized that there was more to Kai's story than he had told her, that he carried his own burdens and scars. But as she looked into his eyes, she felt a connection that ran deeper than words—a shared understanding of the path they were both walking.
As the night wore on, Ayla couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The first strike had been a success, but the kingdom would not stand idly by. They had lit a spark, and soon, that spark would spread into something much larger.
The battle for Elmreach had only just begun.