(Chapter 37)
Rowan Evandril, with his ever-calm demeanor, added, "We must make a wise decision. If we move too quickly, we could fall into a trap. The Khan alliance might try to retaliate, but they are also in a weak position after losing their leader."
Lorcan Frostborne stood before a large table covered with maps, his hands clenched at his sides. Though the Khan had been defeated, the anger he had harbored for years was not yet extinguished. The emptiness and resentment continued to haunt his thoughts. "I can't just sit and wait," he said coldly. "They all have to pay for what they've done."
Rowan, seated beside Kaelion Arvasyn, watched Lorcan with a concerned gaze. "You've fought hard, Lorcan. Maybe it's time to take a pause. I know you feel there is still something to be done, but don't let yourself get caught in an endless cycle of vengeance."
Lorcan's gaze turned sharp. "I can't stop. As long as they still exist, my family has not been avenged."
Kaelion tried to calm him with a voice full of care. "Your family would want you to live in peace. They wouldn't want you to sacrifice yourself just for revenge."
However, Kaelion's words didn't immediately reach Lorcan's heart. For him, the honor of his family and the pain of his loss were too deep to ignore. "You will never understand," he muttered softly, his voice like a whisper. "This isn't just about revenge. It's about stopping all this violence. If I don't finish this, more people will suffer."
Rowan, who had been observing closely, finally spoke up. "I understand. But war isn't always ended by violence. Sometimes, what we need is the right strategy, not a blind attack. Let me plan the next step."
Lorcan paused for a moment, his eyes still fixed on the map. Another battle raged within him—between the desire to end it all quickly and the urge to hold back.
"I will wait," he said at last, though his voice remained tense.
That night.
The night sky was filled with stars, and Lorcan Frostborne sat alone outside his tent, gazing toward the horizon. Memories of his brother, who had sacrificed for him, haunted his thoughts. All the pain, loss, and anger he had kept inside shaped him into who he was now.
"Have I gone too far?" he murmured quietly. In the silence of the night, Lorcan felt increasingly alienated from the world.
Light footsteps sounded behind him. "Duke?" Kaelion's voice broke the silence. The crown prince approached and sat beside him, also looking up at the night sky.
Lorcan didn't respond, continuing to stare at the sky with an empty expression.
"I know you're carrying a heavy burden," Kaelion said gently. "I may not fully understand what you're going through, but I do know what it's like to fight alone."
Lorcan glanced briefly at him, then fell silent again.
Kaelion smiled faintly, his eyes filled with concern. "We can't change the past, Lorcan. But we can choose how we live in the future. You have the strength to protect, not just to destroy."
Kaelion's words began to seep into Lorcan's heart, making him ponder. But the shadows of the past still controlled him.
"We fight together, Lorcan," Kaelion continued. "But not with hearts full of hatred. We must do it with a clear mind, for all the people who still believe in us."
A pause. Lorcan finally sighed softly, though his anger was not yet fully quelled. "I won't stop," he whispered. "But I will listen to your plan."
Kaelion patted Lorcan's shoulder warmly, offering a sense of support. "We'll do it together."
Lorcan looked up at the night sky again, realizing that the true battle was not only against the enemy out there but also against the darkness within himself.