The village of Fendral, nestled in a fertile valley, was once a place of peace. The sun rose slowly each morning, the evening sky transformed into a canvas of orange hues, and the cool breeze brought a sense of calm. But that tranquility was only a surface, for hidden beneath it, an unseen threat always loomed. Orc forces had flattened other villages, and we knew it was only a matter of time. Fendral was the last to stand.That day, the threat finally arrived.I looked at my mother and sister's faces, trying to comfort them, though my own heart was filled with fear. "Mother, we will return. Fendral will survive," I said, my voice trembling as I tried to give them hope, even though I felt as though I were standing on the edge of a cliff.Before our eyes, the orc army appeared. They were larger, more numerous, and far more terrifying than we had ever imagined. Their leader, an armored orc with glowing red eyes, glared at us with a hatred so fierce it sent chills down our spines. We knew this was not just a battle for land—it was a fight for life and death.**The battle began with terrifying brutality. The orcs surged forward relentlessly, destroying everything in their path. The villagers, untrained in combat, could only fight with makeshift weapons. I ran to my father, who was fighting on the front lines. His face was filled with determination, though his exhaustion was evident."Father, we must hold on! Fendral cannot fall!" I shouted, trying to inspire him, though my chest felt tight, as if I could feel his heart racing.He looked at me, his eyes filled with a conviction I wasn't sure I could feel myself. "Fendral will stand, Darren. We must fight for this land!" His sword gleamed as he raised it high, and for a moment, I believed we might win.But suddenly, everything changed. My father fell. I watched as his body hit the ground, his sword slipping from his grasp. An orc stood over him, swinging a massive blade, striking my father down. "Father!" I ran, trying to push the orc away, but there was nothing I could do. My father looked at me, his face weary, but a faint smile played on his lips."Darren, save yourself," he whispered, his voice soft but filled with meaning. "Don't let this be the end."Tears streamed down my face, and I cried out, "Father, no!" But it was too late. As the last orc swung his weapon, my father's life ended. And I, standing frozen, felt as if the world had collapsed on me. His death was a blow I couldn't bear.**The battle raged on. Every step felt heavier. The villagers who still fought, did so desperately, but we knew our strength couldn't compare to the endless waves of orcs.Amid the chaos, I saw Elios, my best friend, fighting a massive orc. His sword raised high, he fought with incredible courage. Even wounded, his eyes still burned with determination. We fought side by side, but I knew we had already lost.When I saw Elios face two orcs, everything seemed to slow down. I ran to help him, but by the time I reached him, the orc's massive sword had already pierced my friend's body. I heard my heart scream, but it was too late. "Elios!" I ran, my body shaking as I held him. Blood flowed from his wound. His face was pale, but there was still a faint smile on his lips, as if he knew this was the end."Darren... run," he whispered, his voice almost inaudible. His eyes began to fade, and in an instant, I lost him. "Elios, don't leave me... don't leave me!" My scream escaped uncontrollably, but there was nothing that could bring him back. My best friend was gone.**When night fell, I walked through the ruins of the village. Thick smoke still rose high, obscuring the stars in the sky. The village that had once been filled with laughter was now nothing but scorched earth. Every step grew heavier, every breath more suffocating.I searched, hoping to find my mother, my sister, or anyone to speak to. But all I found were corpses, debris, and devastation. All I loved, all that was dear to my heart, was gone. Fendral, once full of life, now left only emptiness.I fell to my knees, unable to hold back the tears. The land that had once been my home was now nothing more than a graveyard for all that I had cherished. My heart felt shattered, as if there was nothing left I could do. Without my father, without my friend, without my village... I was alone.Yet, in that despair, one thing still burned inside me: vengeance and hope. I swore that, though this village had been destroyed, I would return. I would avenge every drop of blood spilled, every life lost. This was not the end. I would rise again, and I would make them pay.With a body bruised and a heart broken, I stepped away. In the darkness of the night, there was only one thing that moved my steps: a hope that still flickered, though faint, to someday see this destruction paid for with their blood.**After Eira left, Ardan felt a lightness, as if the weight on his heart had dissipated. With newfound resolve, he walked toward Mara Jyn's home. Beneath the row of old trees, Ardan found Darren, lost in thought, staring blankly at the sky.Ardan approached and sat beside him. "What do you see?" he asked softly.Darren turned slightly, pulling himself away from the memory of Fendral's battle against the orc forces. His eyes spoke more than words. "Ah... the sky. Maybe the stars know more than we do." Darren sighed heavily.Ardan nodded, looking at Darren seriously. "Tell me about Fendral. How did it all end in ruin?"Darren fell silent for a moment before he began to speak. "Our village was destroyed after years of fighting. We hid, striking at the orc forces one by one. But eventually, they realized and surrounded us. We held out in a massive battle for days. All the houses burned. Everyone... died. I'm the only one who survived."Darren's voice cracked. Ardan remained silent, trying to feel the pain behind the words."Darren," Ardan said, "what trapped you all so deeply?"Darren took a deep breath, his eyes empty. "We knew it was risky. But we weren't ready for such a large attack. We weren't strong enough."Silence. The night wind rustled through the trees."I ran," Darren continued, his voice lower. "After everything was destroyed, I just ran. I didn't know where. I only knew that if I stayed, I would die with them."Ardan looked at him with empathy. "You survived. That's what matters most."Darren bowed his head, regret clear on his face. "I feel like a traitor. Everyone fought, while I... just ran."Ardan touched his shoulder. "No one can choose how they survive. What matters is what you do after."Darren looked at him, confused. "I don't know what I'm supposed to do."Ardan smiled faintly. "You have time. The past can't be changed, but the future is still open."Darren nodded slowly, tears beginning to fall. "I just want them to be alive."Ardan nodded, understanding. "You don't need to forgive yourself right now. Time will give you that chance."Darren looked at him with eyes full of loss. "What should I do?"Ardan looked at him seriously. "Start from here, one step, one decision, one action. We'll fight together."Darren stared at him and then said softly, "Thank you, Ardan. I'll stay. Maybe this is the right step."Ardan smiled faintly. "You're not alone, Darren. We're all here for each other."Darren nodded slowly, as if he were beginning to feel there was hope. Ardan patted his shoulder. "Sleep now. Tomorrow, we take our first step."Darren nodded. "You're right. I need rest."Ardan let him rest, while thinking, "Tomorrow is a new day. We begin from here."**The morning greeted gently, with the sunlight seeping through the gaps in the windows, dancing on the dusty wooden floor. Ardan, who had slept near the stove after spending the night battling to keep the house warm, was awakened by sounds that shattered the silence. The sounds came from Darren, who was busy cleaning the house.Ardan opened his eyes, feeling heavy and still wrapped in sleepiness, but the sound was enough to pull him from his dreams. He found Darren wiping down the old wooden table in the corner of the room, his movements cautious, as though he were trying to give meaning to each small action."What are you doing?" Ardan asked in a hoarse voice, still groggy from his deep sleep.Darren turned, slightly startled by Ardan's sudden voice. "I... I just wanted to help," he answered quietly, looking awkward. "The house is a bit messy, and I feel uncomfortable just sitting around doing nothing."Ardan yawned widely, his body stiff from sleeping near the stove all night. Slowly, he sat up, feeling the stiffness creeping into his joints. "You don't need to feel burdened, Darren. This is not a place where you're expected to always be working."Darren nodded, though his gaze remained focused on his task. "I just feel like I need to be more useful. After everything that's happened, I feel... I can't just sit idly."Ardan looked at him gently, understanding exactly what Darren was feeling. "You've helped more than you think," Ardan said as he stood up, stretching his stiff body. "At least, you've made this house feel more alive."Darren looked at him for a moment, then smiled faintly, though doubt still lingered on his face. "Thank you, Ardan. I... I think this is the least I can do."Ardan nodded, then walked toward Darren. "Don't feel like you have to do everything alone. But I appreciate it. Now, how about breakfast? I think we all need energy to face today."Darren nodded, agreeing without a word, and they both headed toward the simple dining table that felt comfortable. Ardan began preparing breakfast with whatever ingredients they had on hand, while Darren, who was starting to feel calmer, sat by the stove, staring at the still-burning fire in deep thought.Suddenly, the door to Ardan's house creaked open. Eira appeared in the doorway, walking steadily despite the deep exhaustion on her face. Her eyes flicked between Ardan and Darren, as though carrying a message only she could understand."Good morning, Ardan, Darren," Eira greeted with a cheerful voice, though there was a shadow of gloom behind it.Ardan turned, squinting his eyes, and his tone came out curt. "Morning," he replied briefly, adding nothing more, as if his words were stuck in his throat.Darren was taken aback by Ardan's colder tone than usual, but he tried to smile, attempting to keep the mood light. "Eira, you're just on time. We just finished preparing breakfast. Come join us," he invited kindly.Eira stepped in calmly, her eyes scanning the room for a moment before turning back to Darren. "Of course, I'd be happy to," she replied, though she couldn't entirely hide the curiosity in her eyes.Ardan remained sitting at the table, not moving. "I figured you'd come early," he muttered flatly, his voice sharper than usual.Eira paused for a moment, trying to understand the meaning behind Ardan's words. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, seeking an explanation, though there was a slight furrow in her brow.Ardan exhaled slowly, responding in an even colder tone. "Nothing special," he replied quickly, returning his focus to the food in front of him, as if he wanted to end the conversation.Darren, feeling the tension growing between them, could only remain silent. He glanced between Ardan and Eira, his confusion deepening. Something was clearly wrong, but he didn't know what to say.Eira nodded slowly, her gaze still fixed on Ardan, as if trying to learn more. "I understand," she answered hesitantly. She chose not to press further, at least for now.The three of them sat in silence, the clinking of spoons and forks echoing faintly in the quiet. Darren felt a bit awkward, unable to do anything but watch them both, confused by the tension hanging in the air.**After breakfast, Darren and Eira followed Ardan to the farm. Ardan, who usually worked alone, felt a little disturbed by their presence. Though they helped feed the animals and organize tools, there was an unspoken tension in the air, even if it wasn't voiced.In the cramped and dimly lit tool storage room, the only sound was the rustling of metal and wood as Eira and Ardan busied themselves collecting equipment. The scent of earth and dust filled the air, reminding them of the never-ending work.Eira pulled a shovel from the pile of metal tools. She carefully extracted it, but in the process, her hand accidentally brushed against Ardan's arm as he crouched beside her, reaching for a hoe.They both froze for a moment, as if time had stopped. Eira's heart began to race. Her face immediately turned red, and her eyes dropped to the floor, avoiding Ardan's gaze. The shovel she held suddenly felt heavier than before. "Ah, sorry... I didn't mean to," she murmured quietly, her voice almost swallowed by the stillness of the room.Ardan, who had been slightly startled by the contact, shrugged. However, his expression remained neutral and cold. His face gave no sign of emotion, though there was a strange sensation burning inside him. "It's fine," he replied curtly, his voice a little hoarse, trying to hide the nervousness that stirred in his chest.Eira quickly nodded, trying to calm herself. She stepped back a little to create distance, hoping Ardan wouldn't notice how red her face had become. "I just... I just wanted to grab the shovel, but..." her words trailed off, and she lowered her head, hoping no one would see how awkward she felt.Ardan continued his work as if nothing had happened, but inside, more complex feelings began to take hold. His hands trembled slightly as he grabbed the hoe again, but he struggled to remain calm and not show any sign of unease.Eira focused back on her task, but each time her eyes accidentally glanced at Ardan, the feeling of embarrassment returned, making her cheeks flush even more. "I... I can help with something else if you need," she said hesitantly, trying to act normal despite the nervous thumping in her heart.Ardan just nodded slightly, his eyes still on the tools in front of him. "No need," he replied, though his tone was a bit softer than usual. "I can handle it."Silence returned to the room, the only sound now was the shifting of tools and the soft sound of footsteps. Eira felt as though there was something unsaid between them, an unspoken tension that couldn't be eased with words. Though they both tried to act as if everything was fine, there was a feeling that couldn't be hidden behind Ardan's cold demeanor or Eira's awkwardness.After a while, Eira let out a quiet sigh, trying to calm herself. "Ardan..." she called uncertainly, but her words faltered, as if she were searching for what to say.Ardan turned briefly, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What?" he replied, his tone still flat, though there was a hint of curiosity.Eira tried to gather her thoughts, but it was hard to express what was on her mind. "Nothing, I just... I just wanted to make sure you're okay," she replied, stumbling over her words, feeling like her attempts only made the atmosphere more awkward.Ardan shrugged again, trying to hide the discomfort that was also inside him. "I'm fine. Thank you," he said briefly, then continued gathering the farming tools.Inside, though, he felt strange. Something he couldn't explain made him more aware of Eira's presence around him. Even though he tried to act indifferent, his heart raced, and he hoped Eira didn't notice how his cheeks had turned slightly red.On the other side, Eira felt increasingly awkward, and every passing second seemed to make the situation worse. They continued collecting various tools, but the unspoken tension hung in the air, a space between them that neither of them acknowledged, until they both chose to focus on their work and avoid looking at each other.Darren, observing them, could only smile faintly, sensing that something was developing between them, though both remained silent.**After finishing with the tools, they made their way to the Erindor village farm area. After a while, they met Lyra near the road leading to the farm. Lyra's face looked serious, but there was a glint of relief in her eyes."Ardan," Lyra whispered, leaning closer to his ear. "I spoke to some of the villagers who were hesitant last night. I managed to convince them. Some are ready to join."Ardan paused for a moment, gazing at Lyra with an expression gentler than usual. "That's good news," he said with a slight smile, acknowledging Lyra's efforts. "Good job, Lyra."Lyra smiled faintly, looking lighter. "There are still some who are doubtful, but at least we've started to break their fear," she said optimistically. "I'll keep talking to them."Then, Lyra gave them space to continue their journey. She waved to Eira and Darren as they slowly moved away from where she stood.Ardan resumed walking, followed by Eira and Darren. Eira was slightly behind, keeping her distance, but the atmosphere felt lighter after meeting with Lyra. Darren stayed by Ardan's side, aware of the unresolved dynamics, but no longer feeling the need to address them.They continued their way to the farm, with Ardan's steps steady and Eira trying to adjust. There weren't many words spoken, but they all knew where they were headed—both physically and emotionally.