The clearing was eerily quiet. The trees loomed tall and dark, their bare branches clawing at the overcast sky. Elyra stepped forward, her boots sinking into the damp earth, every step feeling heavier than the last. Behind her, two of her most trusted rebels—Toren and a scout named Rina—flanked her, their weapons ready but hidden beneath their cloaks.
Kael stood waiting at the center of the clearing, his broad frame motionless, his posture calm but alert. He was unarmed, or at least appeared to be. Elyra didn't trust that for a second.
He looked different now, away from the chaos of battle. His armor, though still imposing, seemed less of a shield and more a burden. His dark hair, usually immaculate, was wind-tousled, and his face bore the signs of fatigue.
"Elyra," he said, his voice low and steady as she approached.
"Kael," she replied, keeping her tone as neutral as possible. She stopped a few paces away, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword.
They stood there for a moment, the tension between them thick enough to choke on.
"You wanted to meet," Elyra said finally, breaking the silence. "Say what you came to say, or I'm leaving."
Kael's dark eyes studied her for a moment, his gaze sharp and assessing. "Always in such a hurry," he murmured, almost to himself.
Elyra's patience was already thin. "I didn't come here to trade barbs, Kael. Get to the point."
His expression shifted, the faintest trace of a smirk disappearing as his face hardened. "Very well. I came to offer you a chance to save what's left of your rebellion."
Elyra's jaw clenched, her fingers tightening on her sword hilt. "What makes you think I'd trust anything you have to say?"
"You don't have to trust me," Kael said, his voice steady. "But you can't deny the truth. The ridge is gone. Your forces are scattered. And the Council will be sending reinforcements within the week. If you stay where you are, they'll wipe you out."
Her chest tightened at his words, not because they were new, but because they were true. Still, she refused to let him see her doubt.
"And I suppose you're here to offer me some grand solution?" she said, her tone biting.
Kael's gaze didn't waver. "I have information about the Council's next move—about their plans to end this rebellion once and for all."
Elyra's breath caught, but she forced herself to remain composed. "Why would you tell me that?"
"Because I've seen enough bloodshed," Kael said, his voice quieter now. "And because I know the Council. They won't just end the rebellion—they'll destroy everything and everyone connected to it. Villages. Families. Innocents. They won't stop until there's nothing left."
Her stomach twisted at his words. She had always known the Council was ruthless, but hearing it from Kael, seeing the grim certainty in his eyes, made it all the more real.
"You've fought for them for years," Elyra said, her voice hard. "What makes you care now?"
Kael hesitated, and for the first time, she saw something like vulnerability flicker across his face. "I care," he said slowly, "because I've seen what happens when they win. And I've seen what happens to those who stand in their way."
The weight in his voice made her pause. For a moment, she saw the man beneath the armor, the man who had let her go on the battlefield, who had spared her when he could have ended it all.
But she couldn't afford to be swayed. Not yet.
"And what do you want in return for this information?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Kael's gaze held hers, steady and unflinching. "Your surrender."
The words hit her like a blow. The clearing seemed to grow colder, the air heavier.
"You can't be serious," she said, her voice low and dangerous.
"I am," Kael replied. "If you surrender, I can guarantee the safety of your people. No reprisals. No executions. The Council doesn't have to know who led the rebellion—they only need to know it's over."
Elyra laughed bitterly, the sound harsh in the stillness. "You think I'd betray everything we've fought for? Everyone who's died for this cause? You don't know me as well as you think, Kael."
His expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—regret, perhaps.
"I'm not asking you to betray them," he said quietly. "I'm asking you to save them."
Her breath caught at his words, but she quickly pushed the thought away. "You're asking me to kneel," she snapped. "To let the Council win. That's not saving anyone."
Kael stepped closer, his voice lowering. "And what will you do instead, Elyra? Fight to the last breath? Watch as everything you've built burns to ash? You think that's victory?"
She wanted to argue, to lash out, but the words caught in her throat. The truth was, she didn't know what to do. The rebellion was hanging by a thread, and Kael's offer, as infuriating as it was, was the only lifeline she had.
"I'll give you time to think," Kael said, stepping back. "But not much. The Council's reinforcements will be here soon, and when they arrive, it won't matter how strong your resolve is. It'll be over."
He turned to leave, his footsteps crunching softly against the damp ground.
"Kael," Elyra called after him.
He paused, glancing back over his shoulder.
"Why did you let me go?" she asked, her voice quieter now, tinged with something she couldn't quite name.
For a moment, he said nothing. Then, with a faint, almost imperceptible smile, he said, "Because you're not my enemy, Elyra. Not anymore."
And with that, he disappeared into the trees, leaving her standing in the clearing, her heart a storm of conflicting emotions.