The air in Ironholt was thick with tension. Smoke from the fires still lingered in the streets, blending with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid scent of scorched wood. Townsfolk emerged cautiously from their hiding places, their faces pale and their eyes wide with fear. Some hurried to check on loved ones, while others began the grim task of dragging away the bodies of the attackers.
Kael leaned against his spear, his body heavy with exhaustion. The battle in the Emberwild had drained him, and the fight in Ironholt had pushed him even further. His mana reserves were still depleted, and every muscle in his body ached. But there was no time to rest.
He looked around at his companions. Leena was tending to a group of injured villagers, her face set in a grim mask as she worked to bind their wounds. Marra was perched on a barrel, sharpening her arrows with quick, precise movements. Corin was pacing the edge of the marketplace, his daggers in hand as he muttered under his breath. Thane stood nearby, his staff glowing faintly as he studied the mercenaries' bodies.
"We need answers," Kael said, his voice cutting through the tense silence. "Who were they, and why attack now?"
Thane knelt beside one of the fallen attackers, his fingers brushing over the jagged crimson sigil etched into the man's armor. "They're scouts," he said. "The Master's eyes and ears. Their job was to confirm the destruction of the nexus and report back."
Kael frowned. "Then why attack the town? If they're scouts, shouldn't they have retreated once they knew?"
Thane's face darkened. "Because they weren't just scouts. These are executioners. Their orders weren't just to observe—they were sent to punish."
Leena straightened from her work, her hands slick with blood. "Punish us? For what?"
"For interfering," Thane said simply. "The Master sent them here as a warning. He wants to make it clear that there are consequences for standing against him."
Kael's grip on his spear tightened. "Then we send him a message of our own. Ironholt won't fall to him."
---
The townsfolk gathered in the marketplace, their faces pale and their voices hushed. Gerric, the town's leader, stood at the center of the crowd, his expression grim as he addressed them.
"My friends," he began, his voice heavy with emotion. "Today, Ironholt was attacked by forces unlike any we've faced before. These weren't bandits or raiders. They were soldiers—disciplined, deadly, and sent with a purpose."
A murmur ran through the crowd, and Gerric raised his hands to quiet them. "We owe our survival to Kael and his companions," he continued, gesturing toward the group. "They fought bravely to protect us, and because of them, many lives were saved."
The crowd turned to Kael, their eyes filled with gratitude and fear. He felt the weight of their gazes, the unspoken expectations pressing down on him like a physical force.
"We can't let this happen again," Kael said, stepping forward. His voice was steady, but his exhaustion was evident in every word. "The Master sent those soldiers to punish us for destroying the nexus. He wanted to make an example of Ironholt. But we won't let him."
Gerric nodded, his jaw set with determination. "What do we do?"
Kael hesitated. He wasn't a leader—at least, not by choice. But the people of Ironholt were looking to him now, and he couldn't turn away.
"We prepare," he said finally. "We fortify the town, train everyone who can fight, and gather supplies. The Master will come again, and when he does, we'll be ready."
---
The days that followed were a blur of activity. The people of Ironholt threw themselves into the task of fortifying the town, their fear driving them to work with tireless determination. Barricades were erected at every entrance, the walls were reinforced, and watchtowers were hastily constructed. Every able-bodied villager was armed, even if it was just with a rusty sword or a makeshift spear.
Kael worked alongside them, training the townsfolk in basic combat techniques. He demonstrated how to hold a weapon, how to block and parry, and how to work together in groups to overwhelm stronger opponents. His movements were slow and deliberate, his exhaustion making it difficult to maintain his usual speed and precision. But he pushed through the pain, knowing that every lesson could mean the difference between life and death.
Leena joined him in training the villagers, her experience as a soldier evident in the way she barked orders and corrected their stances. Marra focused on teaching the archers, her sharp eye and steady hand inspiring confidence in even the most nervous recruits. Corin worked on fortifying the town's defenses, his quick thinking and resourcefulness turning everyday objects into deadly traps.
Thane, meanwhile, spent his time studying the remains of the nexus energy that lingered in the Emberwild. He believed that the residual mana could be used to create protective wards for the town, but the process was complex and draining. Every night, he returned to the inn pale and shaking, his mana reserves nearly depleted.
---
One evening, as the group sat around a table in the town's inn, Gerric approached them. His face was lined with worry, and his hands were calloused from days of labor.
"I can't thank you enough for what you've done," he said, his voice low. "But I have to ask—do you really think we can hold Ironholt against the Master?"
Kael met his gaze, his expression unreadable. "I don't know," he admitted. "But we have to try. If we don't, there's no future for this town—or anyone in it."
Gerric nodded slowly. "Then we'll fight. Whatever it takes."
As he left, Kael turned to the others. "We're running out of time. The Master won't wait long before he makes his next move."
"We need allies," Leena said. "Ironholt can't stand alone. There must be other towns, other groups who've fought the Master before. If we can find them, we might have a chance."
Thane nodded. "There are resistance groups scattered throughout the region. They've been fighting the Master's forces for years, but they're disorganized and fragmented. If we could unite them..."
"It's a risk," Marra said. "Leaving Ironholt now would mean leaving the town vulnerable. Are we sure it's worth it?"
Kael hesitated. Every instinct told him to stay, to stand with Ironholt and defend it. But Leena and Thane were right. They couldn't win this fight alone.
"We'll split up," Kael said finally. "Some of us will stay here to defend the town, and the rest will search for allies. It's our best chance."
---
The decision was made. Kael, Marra, and Thane would leave Ironholt to seek out resistance groups, while Leena and Corin would remain behind to help fortify the town and train the villagers.
The morning of their departure was somber. The people of Ironholt gathered at the gates to see them off, their faces a mixture of gratitude and worry. Gerric stepped forward, clasping Kael's hand tightly.
"Good luck," he said. "We'll hold the town as long as we can."
Kael nodded. "We'll be back. And when we return, we won't be alone."
As they set out into the wilderness, the weight of their mission pressed heavily on Kael's shoulders. The road ahead was uncertain, and the threat of the Master loomed over every step. But he pushed forward, his resolve unshaken.
The battle for Ironholt had begun.