The caravan raid had ended without bloodshed, but the air in the resistance camp was far from calm. The stolen wagons sat under the sparse cover of trees, their tarps pulled tight to hide the supplies from prying eyes. Around them, the resistance members whispered in hushed tones, casting sidelong glances at Kain.
Sera lingered near one of the wagons, her small hands brushing over the rough wood. Kain stood a few paces away, watching as Arna and Galen argued near the edge of the clearing. Their voices rose and fell like the tides, sharp and unyielding, cutting through the quiet of the forest.
"You're letting him take control," Galen said, jabbing a finger in Arna's direction. "We should've been there, in the middle of it. This 'talking' nonsense might've worked once, but it's not going to scare the Syndicate off for long."
Arna crossed her arms, her gaze hard. "And if we had gone in with weapons drawn? How many of us would've died, Galen? You think the Syndicate wouldn't retaliate tenfold if they lost a patrol in a fight?"
"And you think they won't retaliate anyway?" Galen shot back, his smirk bitter. "Taking their supplies is enough to provoke them. We should've hit them harder while we had the chance."
Kain stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "They walked away. No one had to die. That's what matters."
Galen turned on him, his eyes blazing. "And what happens when they come back with reinforcements? You think your words are going to stop them then? The only thing the Syndicate understands is strength. And right now, all they've seen is a group of cowards hiding in the woods."
The camp fell silent as Galen's words hung in the air. Kain didn't flinch, meeting Galen's glare with a steady gaze.
"And how many innocents are you willing to sacrifice to show that strength?" Kain asked quietly. "How many people will get caught in the crossfire because you couldn't control your anger?"
Galen's jaw tightened, his fists clenched at his sides. "I don't expect you to understand. You've got your high ideals, your perfect little philosophy. But the rest of us? We've seen what the Syndicate does to people who get in their way. We don't have the luxury of mercy."
"It's not a luxury," Kain said. "It's the only way to break the cycle."
Before Galen could respond, Arna stepped between them, her voice cutting through the tension. "Enough. Both of you."
She turned to Galen, her tone sharp. "Kain's plan worked. We got what we needed, and no one died. That's a win, whether you like it or not."
Galen let out a bitter laugh, but he didn't argue further. Instead, he turned on his heel and stalked away, disappearing into the shadows at the edge of the camp. The murmurs among the resistance members resumed, a low hum of unease.
Arna sighed, rubbing her temples. "You've made an impression, Kain. Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen."
Kain nodded slightly. "I'm not here to make enemies. But I'm not going to stand by while this group turns into something it's not supposed to be."
Arna studied him for a moment, then shook her head. "You've got guts. I'll give you that. Just make sure you know what you're getting into."
As night fell over the camp, Kain found Sera sitting by the edge of the clearing, staring at the stars through the canopy of trees. She looked small against the vastness of the night, her knees drawn to her chest as she hugged them tightly.
"Hey," Kain said softly, sitting down beside her. "You've been quiet."
Sera shrugged, not taking her eyes off the sky. "Just thinking."
"About what?"
She hesitated, then said, "About what Galen said. About the Syndicate. He's not wrong, is he? They'll come back. They always do."
Kain exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "He's not wrong about that. The Syndicate doesn't let things go. But that doesn't mean we have to stoop to their level."
"But what if it's the only way?" Sera asked, her voice trembling. "What if fighting is the only way to stop them?"
Kain was silent for a long moment, his mind flashing back to Velstrine, to the ruins of his home and the lives lost in the chaos. He thought of the Syndicate heroes, their powers tearing through the streets without a second thought for the people caught in the crossfire. And he thought of Talia, her small body lying still beneath the rubble.
"It's not the only way," Kain said finally, his voice steady. "It's the easiest way. But that doesn't make it right."
Sera glanced at him, her eyes searching his face. "Do you really believe that? Even after everything?"
"I have to," Kain said. "Because if I don't, then there's no difference between us and them."
Sera nodded slowly, though her expression was still uncertain. Kain placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, offering what little comfort he could.
"Come on," he said. "You should get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be another long day."
The camp was quiet as Kain settled into his usual spot by the fire, his back against a tree. He watched the flames dance, their light flickering against the rough bark, and tried to push the day's events from his mind.
But sleep didn't come easily.
He was jolted awake by the sound of raised voices.
Kain sat up quickly, his hand instinctively reaching for his side. The fire had burned low, casting long shadows across the clearing. In the distance, he could hear shouting, the words sharp and frantic.
He rose to his feet, his heart pounding as he moved toward the noise. Sera appeared beside him, rubbing her eyes but alert. "What's going on?" she whispered.
"I don't know," Kain said. "Stay close."
They followed the sound to the edge of the camp, where a group of resistance members had gathered. In the center of the commotion stood Galen, his face flushed with anger as he argued with another man—a younger resistance member with wide, frightened eyes.
"You weren't supposed to go near the Syndicate patrols!" Galen shouted, his voice echoing through the trees.
"I didn't have a choice!" the younger man protested. "They spotted me! If I hadn't run, they would've followed me back here!"
"And now they know we're here!" Galen snarled, stepping closer. "Do you have any idea what you've done? You've put us all at risk!"
Arna pushed her way through the crowd, her expression grim. "What's going on?"
"The idiot led a patrol straight to us," Galen said, his voice dripping with venom. "It's only a matter of time before they find the camp."
Arna turned to the younger man, her gaze hard. "Is that true?"
The man nodded, his face pale. "I-I didn't mean to. I tried to lose them, but—"
Arna held up a hand, silencing him. She turned to the rest of the group, her voice steady. "Pack up everything you can carry. We're moving. Now."
The camp erupted into motion as resistance members scrambled to gather supplies and equipment. Kain stood still for a moment, his mind racing. This was exactly the kind of escalation he had been afraid of. The Syndicate wouldn't just stop at finding the camp—they would hunt down everyone involved, and Reynes would pay the price.
"Kain," Sera said, tugging on his sleeve. "What do we do?"
Kain glanced down at her, then at the chaos unfolding around them. He took a deep breath, steeling himself. "We keep moving. But first, we have to make sure they don't follow us."
As the resistance prepared to leave, Kain approached Arna, his expression grim. "Let me handle the patrol. I can lead them away from the camp."
Arna frowned. "That's a risk we can't afford. If they catch you—"
"They won't," Kain said firmly. "Just trust me."
Arna hesitated, then nodded. "Be careful."
Kain nodded back, then turned to Sera. "Stay with them. I'll find you once it's safe."
"But—" Sera began, her voice filled with worry.
"No arguments," Kain said, his tone gentle but firm. "I'll be fine."
Sera bit her lip but nodded reluctantly. "Okay."
As the camp faded into the distance, Kain slipped into the shadows, his mind focused on the task ahead. He could hear the distant sound of Syndicate boots crunching through the underbrush, growing closer with each passing moment.
Control isn't the same as peace, he thought. But sometimes, control is the only way to protect the people who still believe in it.
And with that, he disappeared into the darkness, ready to face what came next.