Lucius remained on the floor, his breathing steady but shallow, as I knelt beside him. The tension in the air was palpable when Kael, Asher, and the other generals arrived, their faces tight with urgency. Leading them was a man I didn't recognize, but my heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.
He looked exactly like Lucius.
The resemblance was uncanny, down to the sharp jawline and the proud stature. However, there were differences—his eyes were a piercing yellow instead of Lucius's striking green, and faint moles trailed from his left cheek to his neck. His energy was familiar, almost like an echo of Lucius's, but less intimidating, less powerful.
The moment he stepped forward, Lucius stirred faintly as if sensing the man's presence. A surge of renewed energy seemed to flow into him, though his body remained weak.
"This way," Kael said urgently, gesturing for us to move. "We need to get him inside."
