The air inside the mill was heavy with dust and the quiet tension of strangers sizing each other up. Aiden stood at the center of the group, his posture firm but his mind racing. This was his first attempt at building something bigger than himself—a movement that could challenge the kingdom's grip.
The woman with the sharp eyes stepped closer, crossing her arms. "Name's Lira," she said curtly. "And that's Garron." She nodded toward the hulking man at her side, who gave a single, gruff nod. "The boy is Finn."
Finn shuffled nervously but kept his chin high.
"What's your plan?" Lira asked, her tone laced with skepticism.
Aiden hesitated, glancing at Cara. She gave him a small nod, urging him to speak.
"We start small," Aiden said. "Take out supply lines, disrupt the kingdom's hold on villages like this one. We grow our numbers with every strike. The more people see that the kingdom can bleed, the more they'll join us."
Garron snorted. "And how do you plan to take on an army? You've got fire, sure, but that won't be enough when they send knights after you."
"I'll get stronger," Aiden said, his voice steady. "And I'm not asking anyone to fight alone. We'll be smarter, faster. We hit them where it hurts and disappear before they can retaliate."
Lira raised an eyebrow. "And what happens when they find you?"
"They already found me," Aiden replied. "They destroyed my village, killed my family, and locked me in a dungeon. But I'm still here."
For a moment, the room was silent. Then Lira gave a short laugh.
"Brave and foolish," she said. "Fine. I'll help you—for now. But if this plan falls apart, I'm out."
Garron crossed his massive arms, his expression unreadable. "I've got no love for the kingdom. Count me in."
Finn shifted his weight, his youthful face serious. "They took everything from my family. If there's a chance to fight back, I'm in too."
Aiden nodded, relief and determination flooding through him. "Good. We start tomorrow."
---
The First Strike
At dawn, the newly formed group gathered just outside the village, hidden among the tall grass and low trees. Lira crouched beside Aiden, her sharp eyes scanning the road ahead.
"The supply wagon will come through here," she said, pointing to the narrow path that cut through the fields. "They travel light—two guards, maybe three. But they'll be armed."
Aiden flexed his fingers, feeling the warmth of the rising sun on his skin. "We'll take them by surprise. Cara, you stay back and cover us with the bow."
Cara, who had been stringing an old bow they'd scavenged from the mill, nodded. "Got it."
"Lira and Garron, you take the flanks," Aiden continued. "Finn, you're with me."
Finn swallowed hard but nodded, gripping the small dagger he'd been given.
They didn't have long to wait. The distant sound of creaking wheels and the clop of hooves signaled the wagon's approach.
Aiden crouched low, his heart pounding as the wagon came into view. It was a simple cart, piled high with crates and barrels, pulled by a pair of weary horses. Two guards in mismatched armor walked alongside it, their weapons at the ready.
"Now," Aiden whispered.
The attack was quick and precise. Lira and Garron emerged from the tall grass, taking the guards by surprise. Garron swung a heavy branch like a club, knocking one guard to the ground, while Lira darted in with a knife, disarming the other.
Aiden raised his hand, summoning a controlled burst of flame that struck the ground in front of the wagon, startling the horses and halting their progress.
"Don't move!" Cara shouted from her perch, her arrow trained on the remaining guard.
The man froze, his sword halfway drawn.
"Drop it," Aiden said, his voice cold.
The guard hesitated, then let his weapon fall to the ground.
Aiden stepped forward, flames still dancing in his palm. "Run," he said.
The guards didn't need to be told twice. They bolted down the road, disappearing into the distance.
---
The group gathered around the wagon, their adrenaline still high.
"Nice work," Lira said, inspecting one of the crates. "Let's see what we've got."
Inside, they found sacks of grain, dried meat, and barrels of fresh water—supplies clearly meant for a nearby garrison.
"This will feed a lot of people," Garron said, hoisting a sack over his shoulder.
Aiden nodded. "We'll distribute what we can to the village. The rest, we'll store at the mill."
Finn grinned, his earlier nervousness replaced by excitement. "We actually did it."
"This is just the beginning," Aiden said, his eyes burning with determination. "The kingdom will come looking for this wagon. We need to be ready for whatever comes next."
---
A Growing Flame
Over the next few weeks, Aiden's group struck again and again. They targeted supply lines, ambushed patrols, and sabotaged outposts. Each victory brought new allies—villagers, farmers, and even deserters from the kingdom's army.
Cara proved invaluable, her sharp mind and quick thinking keeping the group one step ahead of their enemies. Lira became Aiden's second-in-command, her experience in survival and strategy complementing his raw determination.
As their numbers grew, so did Aiden's strength. He practiced relentlessly, mastering his control over fire and pushing his limits. By day, he trained under the sun's rays, creating walls of flame and precise bursts of heat. By night, he worked with Cara and Lira to plan their next moves.
But with every success, the kingdom's retaliation grew fiercer.
---
One evening, as the group gathered around a fire at their hidden camp, Cara sat beside Aiden, her expression thoughtful.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," she said softly.
Aiden glanced at her, the flickering firelight casting shadows across his face. "I don't have a choice. They're getting stronger."
"And so are you," Cara said. "But you can't do this alone. You don't have to."
For a moment, Aiden said nothing, his gaze fixed on the flames. Then he turned to her, his voice quiet but firm.
"I'm not alone," he said.
Cara smiled, her hand brushing against his. In that small moment, amid the chaos and uncertainty, Aiden felt a flicker of something he had never known.