The tension between Hu Jun and Reyna had softened over the past days as they worked together to fortify the village. Though the villagers still regarded Hu Jun with wary awe and Reyna with cautious acceptance, a fragile sense of unity had begun to form. The air was heavy with the promise of impending conflict, but for the first time, Hu Jun allowed himself a sliver of hope.
Until it was shattered.
The night was unusually quiet. Too quiet.
Hu Jun's instincts pricked as he patrolled the perimeter of the village. The shadows seemed longer, the wind carrying an unnatural chill. He paused near the edge of the forest, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. The faint rustling of leaves drew his attention, but as he turned to investigate, he felt it—a presence. Familiar but wrong.
"Reyna," he said without looking. "Why are you here?"
Her voice came from the shadows behind him, steady and calm. "I could ask you the same, Hu Jun. Out here, all alone?"
He turned to face her, his crimson eyes narrowing. She stood a few paces away, her dark cloak blending into the night. Her expression was unreadable, but there was a tension in her stance that set his nerves on edge.
"You're not patrolling," he said. "What's going on?"
Reyna hesitated, then took a step closer. "I… need to tell you something. Something I should have said earlier."
Hu Jun's grip tightened on his sword. "Then say it."
She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, a sharp whistle pierced the air. Instinctively, Hu Jun spun, drawing his blade just as an arrow shot from the trees, narrowly missing him.
"Ambush!" he growled, raising his sword.
Figures emerged from the shadows, their movements swift and coordinated. Clad in dark armor bearing the sigil of the Silver Conclave, they surrounded him in moments. Hu Jun's mind raced as he deflected the first strike, his eyes darting to Reyna.
She hadn't moved. She stood there, her dagger in hand, but her posture was tense, conflicted.
"Reyna," he called, his voice a mix of anger and desperation. "What have you done?"
Her gaze met his, and for a fleeting moment, he saw regret. But then she raised her dagger, her face hardening. "I didn't have a choice, Hu Jun. They'd kill everyone in the village if I didn't bring you to them."
The words hit him like a blow. He barely had time to process the betrayal before the Conclave soldiers attacked in unison. Hu Jun fought with the ferocity of a cornered animal, his sword a blur of steel as he deflected strike after strike. But the numbers were against him.
"Reyna!" he shouted, his voice raw. "Help me!"
She hesitated, her dagger trembling in her hand. But she didn't move to his aid. Instead, she stepped back, her expression a mask of pain and determination.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
The battle raged on, but it was clear Hu Jun couldn't hold out forever. The soldiers pressed in, their movements coordinated and relentless. Blood dripped from a gash on his arm, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Still, he refused to fall.
In a final, desperate move, Hu Jun unleashed a surge of power, the air around him crackling with raw energy. The blast threw his attackers back, buying him a precious moment of respite. But the effort left him drained, his vision swimming.
"Hu Jun," Reyna's voice came again, softer now. She stepped forward, her dagger lowered. "Surrender. Please. They'll spare you if you come willingly."
He laughed bitterly, shaking his head. "Spare me? Don't you see what they are, Reyna? What they'll do?"
"I… I know," she said, her voice breaking. "But I couldn't let them destroy the village. The people need you alive, even if—"
"Even if you betray me?" he interrupted, his eyes blazing with anger and hurt.
Reyna flinched, but before she could respond, the soldiers regrouped. The tall figure from the previous battle emerged from the forest, his presence commanding and cold.
"Enough," the man said. "End this farce. Bring him to me."
Hu Jun gritted his teeth, his body screaming in protest as he raised his sword once more. He knew he couldn't win, not like this. But surrender wasn't an option.
The soldiers closed in, and this time, there was no escape. With a final, defiant roar, Hu Jun charged into the fray, determined to fight until his last breath.
When the dust settled, the square was silent. Hu Jun lay on the ground, his body battered and bound. The tall figure stood over him, a victorious smirk on his face.
"The Broken Villain," he mused. "How fitting."
Reyna stood at the edge of the scene, her dagger slipping from her hand. She turned away, unable to bear the sight of what she had done.
As Hu Jun was dragged away, his crimson eyes locked on hers. There was no hatred in his gaze, only a deep, unspoken question:
Why?