The trade was over, and the soldiers of the Devotion Empire were returning to camp.
The sound of horns echoed in the distance, signalling their arrival. Daniel, standing near the entrance, straightened his back and raised his hand in salute. His face remained calm, but there was a quiet tension in the air, as if he already knew what awaited them.
When the soldiers entered the camp. There were a few dead bodies, though not many, but the sight of the injured was overwhelming. Bloodied faces, bandaged limbs, and broken spirits filled the camp. It was clear that the ambush had taken a heavy toll.
Roy stood silently among the soldiers, his gaze sweeping over the camp. His injuries were minor compared to some of the others, but the memory of the battle still lingered.
Daniel, as always, showed no sign of surprise. It was as if he had anticipated this all along. He turned to Yuri, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What happened?"
Yuri, his expression unreadable, gave a quiet sigh. "A third party entered the fray. We weren't expecting it."
Daniel's eyebrows rose in shock. "A third party? Who?"
Yuri didn't respond immediately, his gaze shifting to the horizon as if contemplating something deeper. "We don't know yet. But they were well-prepared. The attack was meant to create confusion, and they did just that."
Daniel's shock was clear now. "So, it wasn't just the Devotion forces and the Drayton army after all."
Yuri nodded, his face hardening. "No. We've been played. There are hidden forces at work."
After a pause, Daniel looked around at the soldiers and wounded. "Take a day off. Rest and recover. After tomorrow you get back to the program, it's the final day before dividing the teams."
With that, the soldiers began to regroup, helping each other with their wounds, checking for supplies, and tending to the fallen. Roy, Andrew, Sophia, and Crimzo found themselves in the same task group, helping with various tasks to ensure the camp was settled.
As evening drew near, Roy made his way to his quarters. He needed a cold shower to soothe the pain in his muscles and tend to his injuries. The water was icy, but it helped numb the lingering aches from the battle.
He stood there for a moment, letting the cold wash over him, his mind drifting back to everything that had happened during the fight. He could still feel the tension, the quick movements of the battle, the sound of arrows whizzing by.
When he finally finished, he dressed in a fresh set of clothes and went to the outside where Andrew and Sophia were already sitting.
The two of them were seated outside beside a crackling fire, the warmth from the flames pushing back the evening chill.
The camp was quiet now, with most of the soldiers settling into their own routines after the long, exhausting day.
Sophia, noticing Roy's entrance, gave him a soft smile. "Tomorrow, Roy. I'll change your bandages. You've got some healing to do."
Roy nodded, sitting down beside her. "I'll leave it to you then. You're good with that stuff."
Roy leaned back, letting the light from the fire flicker across his face as he relaxed for the first time that day.
A few moments later, Crimzo walked over, carrying a mug in his hand, and smiled as he approached them. "Mind if I join you?"
Andrew raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Sure. We were just talking about how well we work together, but I guess you wouldn't know anything about that, huh?"
Crimzo chuckled and took a seat, settling in next to Andrew. "I know more than you think. I've been keeping an eye on you all."
Sophia smiled softly, her tone playful. "Glad to know we've earned your approval, Crimzo."
Crimzo raised his mug. "You guys really make a great team. I've been meaning to say it, but I'm glad to be part of this. I feel like I've found my place here."
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Is this your way of saying you've decided?"
Crimzo shrugged, but there was a small smile on his face. "Yeah. I'll join you officially."
Andrew nodded approvingly. "You won't regret it."
Roy, as always, remained silent, but there was no objection from him.
Crimzo glanced at Roy and smirked. "Not even a comment? I thought you'd at least say something cool."
Roy looked at him, his voice as flat as ever. "You took your time deciding."
Crimzo chuckled.
The silence that followed was comfortable, the kind that only comes after a day of hard work and deeper connections. The sky outside darkened further, and the stars sparkled.