The camp had changed while Aiden was gone. The once-lively voices of his comrades were muted, replaced by cautious whispers and wary glances. The rebellion's numbers had dwindled further after their last confrontation with the kingdom, and the losses weighed heavily on everyone.
When Aiden stepped into the clearing, the flames of their central fire reflected off his figure, casting him in an almost otherworldly glow. The rebels turned to look, their exhaustion etched into their faces. Cara was the first to break the silence.
"You're back," she said, relief mixing with concern in her voice. "How… how was it?"
Aiden met her gaze, his own eyes sharper, the weight of the Forge still fresh in his mind. "It was…" He paused, searching for the right words. "Necessary."
Cara frowned, her sharp instincts catching the tension in his tone. "And? Did you get what you went there for?"
Aiden didn't answer immediately. Instead, he walked toward the fire and extended a hand. A small, controlled flame leapt to life in his palm, its intensity greater than anything he'd managed before. It burned brighter, hotter, but it didn't flicker wildly as it once did.
"I have more control now," he said, his voice steady. "More power."
Finn, who had been sitting silently nearby, stood and approached hesitantly. His arm was still bandaged from the last battle, and the spark of hope in his eyes was dim. "Does that mean we can finally fight back?"
"Yes," Aiden said firmly. "But we have to be smarter about it. The kingdom knows we're a threat now, and they won't make the same mistakes."
Garron grunted, crossing his arms. "They've already started tightening their grip. Scouts reported that they've fortified the nearby villages and doubled patrols along the main roads. They're choking the forest, Aiden."
Aiden turned his gaze to the map laid out on a nearby log. The kingdom's forces were closing in, and time was running out.
--
A New Plan
As the rebels gathered around the fire, Aiden outlined his strategy.
"They're trying to pin us in," he began, pointing to the locations Garron had mentioned. "But that also means they've stretched themselves thin. If we can hit them where they're weakest, we can create openings to move freely again."
Finn frowned. "Where are they weakest? Every route out of this forest is crawling with soldiers."
Aiden tapped a spot on the map—an isolated watchtower near the forest's edge. "Here. This outpost is key to their communication network. It's how they coordinate their patrols and monitor the region. If we take it out, we buy ourselves time and sow confusion in their ranks."
Cara raised an eyebrow. "That tower's heavily guarded, and it's built on high ground. It won't be easy to get close without being spotted."
Aiden nodded. "That's why we're not going in through the front. There's a ravine that runs beneath the tower. If we can scale the cliff and come up from underneath, we'll catch them off guard."
Garron stroked his beard thoughtfully. "And if they spot us before we make it? It'll be a massacre."
Aiden's expression hardened. "That's a risk we have to take. We can't afford to stay hidden forever. If we don't act, they'll find us anyway."
There was a long silence as the group processed his words. Finally, Cara spoke.
"Alright," she said. "We'll need climbing gear and a distraction to draw their attention away from the ravine. I can take a team to create some noise on the opposite side of the tower."
Aiden nodded. "Good. Garron, you and Finn will handle the explosives. We'll need to make sure the tower is completely destroyed."
Garron grinned. "Now you're speaking my language."
--
The Ascent
The night of the mission arrived, and the rebels moved under the cover of darkness. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sounds the crunch of boots on soil and the occasional rustle of leaves.
Cara led a small team to the far side of the tower, where they set up decoy fires and began launching arrows tipped with flammable resin. The guards scrambled to respond, shouting orders and rushing to extinguish the flames.
Meanwhile, Aiden, Garron, Finn, and a handful of others approached the ravine. The climb was steep, the rocky surface slick with moss. Aiden led the way, his fingers gripping the jagged edges of the cliff with practiced precision.
About halfway up, Finn slipped, a loose rock tumbling from under his foot. Aiden reacted instantly, reaching down and grabbing his arm.
"Hold on!" Aiden hissed, his muscles straining as he pulled Finn back to safety.
"Thanks," Finn whispered, his face pale.
"Keep going," Aiden said. "We're almost there."
They reached the top just as Cara's distraction reached its peak. The guards were focused on the opposite side of the tower, giving Aiden and his team the opening they needed.
--
The Attack
Inside the tower, the guards were scrambling to respond to the perceived threat outside. Aiden's group moved swiftly, taking down the scattered soldiers who remained within.
Garron planted the explosives at the base of the tower, his hands working with practiced efficiency.
"Fuses are set," he said. "We've got three minutes to clear out."
As they began their retreat, an alarm rang out. One of the guards had discovered their presence and was rallying reinforcements.
"Move!" Aiden shouted, flames erupting from his hands to create a barrier between his team and the advancing soldiers.
They sprinted toward the edge of the ravine, the sound of boots and shouts growing louder behind them. Finn was the first to reach the descent, but as he started to climb down, an arrow struck his shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain.
Aiden turned back, unleashing a wave of fire to force the pursuing soldiers to retreat. "Go! I'll cover you!"
Garron and the others helped Finn down the cliff while Aiden held the line. The flames he summoned burned hotter and brighter than ever before, but the effort was draining him.
Finally, as the last of his team reached the bottom, Aiden turned and leapt from the edge, using a controlled burst of fire to soften his landing.
Moments later, the tower exploded in a deafening roar, the flames lighting up the night sky.
--
Aftermath
The rebels regrouped in a nearby clearing, their breaths ragged and their nerves frayed. Finn winced as Cara tended to his wound, and Garron slumped against a tree, clearly exhausted.
"We did it," Garron said, though there was little triumph in his voice.
Aiden looked around at his weary comrades. The mission had been a success, but the cost had been high. The rebellion was hanging by a thread, and every step forward seemed to bring them closer to the brink.
As he stared into the dying embers of their campfire, Aiden felt the weight of their struggle pressing down on him. The Forge had given him strength, but it hadn't prepared him for the sacrifices yet to come.
"We need to be ready," he said quietly. "The kingdom will strike back harder than ever. This is only the beginning."
Cara met his gaze, her expression grim but resolute. "Then we'd better make sure we're ready."
Aiden nodded, the fire within him burning brighter. He would not let their sacrifices be in vain.