Liana paced her small quarters, feeling the familiar fabric of her apron twist and turn in her hands. Five days had slipped by since Kael ventured into the forest, five days since he'd promised to return with that captivating grin of his—one that always hinted at secrets. She recalled how he'd brought his provisions, brushing off her concerns by saying it was just food for his room, but inside she knew the truth. He went to the forest alone.
The forest where monsters lingered.
She had spoken not a word of it to any of them—not the soldiers, not the Commander, to anyone. Liana had convinced herself that Kael would come back, as he always did, even if it was battered and bruised. But as time drew out and the shadows crept across the fortress, that hope began to fade.
Standing by Kael's window, she stared out at the dark mass of trees looming in the distance. The sun dipped below the horizon, bathing everything in a beautiful orange glow, yet she felt none of its warmth. Worry gnawed at her, an insistent ache in her chest.
"Where are you, Kael?" she whispered, her voice almost lost in the silence.
The fifth day crept into the night, and the fortress was more hollow than it had been before. Liana tried to drown out her fears by running with trays and tidying rooms, but her hands quivered, and fear consumed her thoughts. The thought of sneaking out into the forest alone had sent chills down her spine; Kael had almost not made it back from his last attempt—how could she possibly?
The next morning dawned with an unexpected uproar near the gates.
The Commander was back.
Liana froze, her heart racing. He wasn't supposed to return until tomorrow. Panic coursed through her veins.
"They'll ask about Kael," she thought, gripping the edge of her tray tightly.
She managed to stay away from the Commander for most of the day, but by midday, he cornered her in the central hall. She stood before him, head bowed, unable to look up at his fierce blue gaze. Commander Arvell Dyne was a tall figure, his scarred face stern, and Liana felt the weight of his scrutiny pressing down on her.
"Liana," he said, his voice calm yet unyielding, "where is Kael?"
Her heart sank. She wasn't ready for this; her mind scrambled for a response. Steadying herself with a labored breath, she zeroed in on the cold stone floor beneath her.
"Liana," he pushed again, this time more insistently. "Where. Is. Kael?"
The words caught in her throat, but she managed a stammer, "H-he… he went to the forest."
The Commander's expression changed; she could feel his gaze bore into her. "When?
"The night you left to check the monsters near the outer perimeter," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "He said it was important… that he'd be back before you returned."
Silence hung between them, thick and uncomfortable. Liana dared to glance up, meeting the Commander's unreadable expression.
After a long moment, he let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temples.
The last time he ventured into that accursed forest, he nearly lost his life to a corrupted monster," Arvell's voice dripped with frustration. "Don't you recall? We brought him back half-dead. And now you just let him go again?"
Liana winced, guilt washing over her. She opened her mouth, but the Commander continued, his tone growing more urgent.
He's weak, Liana," he said, cutting her off. "Against what's out there, he stands no chance. If something happens to him…" His voice trailed off, but the implication hung in the air.
Tears brimmed in Liana's eyes. "I—I thought he'd come back. He promised…
Arvell shook his head, a mixture of frustration and exhaustion etched across his features. "Promises mean little when the monsters are at your back. You know what his family will do if he doesn't come back. Even if they sent him here to rot, he's still their blood. If he dies… "
The unspoken threat hung between them.
Liana's hands trembled. She remembered how quiet Kael was about this whole thing, how even the rejection did not dampen the strength he brought about to take care of himself as well. She had desperately wanted to believe in him, but uncertainty squeezed at her heart now.
"What do we do?" she asked, barely letting a whisper out of herself.
Arvell sighed, running a hand through his graying hair. "We send a search party. I'll take a few men and head out myself. If he's still out there, we'll find him."
Relief and fear tangled in her chest. As the Commander turned to leave, she called out, her voice shaky, "Commander… please… bring him back. No matter what."
Arvell paused, glancing over his shoulder. "We'll try. But if he's alive, the gods must be watching over him."
---
Later that Day
Liana was determined to join the search party, despite the Commander's firm refusal.
"You're not trained, Liana," Arvell asserted, his tone sharp. "You'll only slow us down. Stay here where it's safe."
But Liana stood firm, unshakeable in her belief. "He's out there because of me. I should have stopped him, but I didn't. I have to try."
"No, Liana," he protested. Concern was written all over his face, but so was the gravity of the situation.
"I can't sit and wait. If this were the other way round, he'd do it for me," she continued, her voice shaking with determination.
Arvell hesitated, torn between his responsibility to keep her safe and the undeniable truth in her words. Finally, he relented, "If you're coming, you follow my orders. No arguments."
Liana nodded, determined. Whatever awaited them in the shadows of the forest, she would face it head-on—she could not lose Kael.
The more they went into the forest, the darker shadows were cast by the towering trees above them, making the foreboding in the air seem all the more terrible. Liana's heart pounded with fear and a steadfast resolve. She had no idea what was to come, but she knew one thing: she wouldn't sleep until Kael was safe.
The forest was thick, suffocating around them with a heavy, impenetrable blanket. An unquiet silence enveloped the party, only broken by rustling leaves and the quiet crunch of boots on wet earth. Even the air felt heavy, saturated with the smell of moss and decay, a reminder that the lurking danger could leap out at any moment.
Liana could hardly keep up with the search party. Her legs screamed in protest, and every breath felt shallow, but she gritted her teeth and pushed forward. She had to find Kael. Every step was a battle against the fatigue threatening to overcome her, but it was an image of Kael that kept her moving.
Liana, you need to rest," Korrin said softly but firmly. He cast a concerned glance her way, his eyes reflecting the worry etched on his face. "We'll find Kael. You're just making it harder for yourself by pushing this hard."
"I can't stop," Liana replied with fierce determination, shaking her head despite the strain in her voice. "He's out there, alone. I won't leave until we bring him back.
Korrin let out a deep sigh, casting a look at Commander Arvell, who continued to steadfastly lead the group. The soldiers looked at each other nervously, but no one spoke up to argue with her further.
Hours passed, and the sun began to set, casting the forest into darkness. Only the torches they carried lit up the way, casting long, dancing shadows on ancient trees. But still, Kael could not be found.
As night completely blanketed them, Commander Arvell finally turned to Liana, his face stern. "You've done enough, Liana," he said firmly. "You are exhausted and not fit to continue. Korrin will take you back to the fortress."
"No," she protested, her voice barely steady. "I can keep going—"
"This isn't up for debate," Arvell cut her off, his tone brokering no argument. "You're risking your safety. We'll continue searching, but you're going back."
Liana's hands clenched into fists, frustration and despair swirling within her. Tears threatened to spill, but she knew fighting would be futile. With a heavy heart, she finally nodded.
"Fine," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper.
Korrin stepped closer, offering a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Come on, Liana. We'll find him."
Just as she turned to follow Kortin, the stillness of the forest was shattered by a faint sound—an agonizing whimper that sent chills down her spine.
The group froze, tension crackling in the air.
"What was that?" one soldier whispered, gripping his weapon tightly, eyes darting around.
The sound came again, louder this time—a weak, heartbreaking cry that echoed through the darkness.
Liana's eyes widened, and she instinctively stepped forward. "Kael…" she breathed.
Arvell's voice boomed as he sprang into action. "Search that area. Now!"
The soldiers moved like lightning, their torches slicing through the darkness. The whimper grew more distinct, and after a tense moment, a soldier's voice broke the silence.
"Over here! We've found him!"
Liana didn't wait. She ran toward the voice, forgetting her fatigue, her heart pounding with a mix of hope and fear.
When she reached the clearing, the sight before her stopped her in her tracks.
Kael lay on the ground, bloodied and battered, his body covered in deep gashes and bruises. His clothes were torn, soaked through with blood and dirt. His chest rose and fell in shallow, labored breaths.
"Kael!" she screamed, running to his side. She dropped to her knees, her shuddering hands hovering above his broken form.
He looked up at her weakly, his pale lips mouthed the words to tell her something, but no words came out. Liana didn't care. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close to her even though blood streamed into her clothes.
"You idiot," she whispered, her voice breaking. Tears streamed down her face as she held him tighter. "Why would you do this? Why?"
Around her, the soldiers moved quickly, following the Commander's orders to prepare Kael for transport. Arvell's voice was calm but urgent as he directed them to stabilize him.
Weakly, Kael's bloodied hand reached out. Liana instinctively clasped it, gripping it tight. His skin felt cold, his grip weak.
"Stay with me, Kael," she implored. "Don't leave me. Please don't leave me."
Kael's lips opened once more, and then his eyes closed again. Liana felt the fear rush through her, her panic at his waning strength.
"No," she breathed, shaking her head. "No, you cannot die. You hear me?"
A strange warmth began to bloom in her chest, a soft golden light spreading from within her. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before—a gentle but powerful energy that seemed to pulse with life itself. She didn't understand it, but she knew what she had to do.
Clutching Kael's hand, Liana closed her eyes and focused on that warmth, willing it to flow into him.
Please." she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please save him."
The golden light intensified, spreading from her hands into Kael's broken body. It seeped into his wounds, washing away the blood and mending his torn flesh. Slowly, his breathing steadied, his pale skin regaining color.
The soldiers stood in stunned silence as the light enveloped Kael, its soft glow illuminating the dark forest. Even the Commander, who had seen his share of miracles and horrors, could only stare in awe.
As the light faded, Kael's eyes fluttered open for a brief moment. He looked up at Liana, his lips forming a faint smile before he lost consciousness.
Liana sobbed, gripping his hand tightly. "You are safe now, Kael," she whispered as the tears fell to his face.
The soldiers, once paralyzed, began moving around her again, and carefully moved Kael's body now stabilized onto a stretcher. Liana wouldn't let go of his hand even as they started moving him back into the fortress.
For the first time in days, fragile hope bloomed within her chest.