Chapter 2: Embers of Resolve

The night after the fall of Eldoria was colder than any Leo had ever known. The small group of survivors huddled in the forest clearing, their faces illuminated by the faint glow of a makeshift fire. The shadows danced across the trees, but no one felt its warmth. It was not just the air that chilled them but the memory of what they had lost.

Leo sat apart from the others, his back against the rough bark of an old oak. His eyes were fixed on the flames, but his mind was far away, replaying the horrors he had witnessed. The sound of his mother’s voice, so warm and full of life that morning, was now just an echo in his mind. His hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms.

A soft rustle pulled him from his thoughts. Finn sat down beside him, his face pale and streaked with dirt. He held out a chunk of bread, the last of their meager rations.

“You should eat,” Finn said, his voice quiet.

Leo shook his head. “I’m not hungry.”

Finn sighed, breaking the bread in two and placing half in Leo’s lap. “Neither am I. But we’ve got to keep our strength up. We don’t know what’s coming next.”

Leo nodded reluctantly and took a bite, though the bread tasted like ash in his mouth. Around them, the other survivors whispered among themselves, their words tinged with fear and despair. Some spoke of fleeing to neighboring villages, hoping for refuge. Others muttered curses against the Beirut Kingdom.

A sudden movement drew everyone’s attention. Valeria stepped into the clearing, her presence commanding despite the exhaustion etched into her face. Her silver armor was tarnished, streaked with soot and blood, but she carried herself with unyielding strength. The survivors fell silent, their eyes filled with a fragile hope.

“We’re not safe here,” Valeria began, her voice steady but low. “The Beirut forces may send patrols to finish what they started. We need to move before dawn.”

“Move where?” a woman asked, clutching her child tightly. “There’s nowhere left to go.”

Valeria’s gaze softened. “There’s a camp to the north, near the border of the Holy Aurelius Empire. It’s a haven for those displaced by the war. We can make it there in two days if we travel quickly.”

Murmurs rippled through the group, some nodding in agreement, others hesitating. Leo’s heart pounded. Two days felt like an eternity, but staying here was a death sentence.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Valeria’s eyes swept over the group, landing on Leo. She approached, kneeling so they were eye level. “You’re Leo, aren’t you?”

He nodded, his voice caught in his throat.

“Your courage back there, trying to find your mother, was admirable,” she said, her tone gentle but firm. “But courage needs direction. You’ll need to be strong for the others now.”

Leo swallowed hard, the weight of her words settling on his shoulders. “I… I don’t feel strong.”

Valeria placed a hand on his shoulder. “Strength isn’t about how you feel. It’s about what you do. Remember that.”

Her words lit a spark within him, small but persistent. He nodded, determination hardening his features. Valeria rose, addressing the group once more.

“Rest now. We leave at first light.”

The journey north began in silence. The forest was dense, its canopy blocking out much of the early morning light. The survivors trudged forward, their steps heavy but resolute. Valeria led the way, her hand never far from the hilt of her greatsword. Leo and Finn stayed near the middle of the group, their eyes darting to every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs.

As the day wore on, the forest’s oppressive silence began to weigh on them. The once vibrant greens seemed muted, the air thick with an unseen tension. Leo’s muscles ached, but he pushed forward, fueled by a simmering anger that refused to be extinguished.

They paused at midday to rest by a small stream. The survivors drank greedily, filling their flasks and washing away the grime of the previous night. Finn splashed water onto his face, his usual grin absent.

“Do you think it’ll ever feel normal again?” he asked, staring at his reflection in the water.

Leo didn’t answer immediately. He stared at the trees, their branches swaying gently in the breeze. “I don’t think it’s supposed to,” he finally said. “Not after what happened.”

Finn looked at him, his expression somber. “But what do we do with all this? The anger? The sadness?”

Leo’s hand tightened around the wolf pendant hanging from his neck. “We use it. We become stronger. So it never happens again.”

Finn nodded, though the uncertainty in his eyes remained. Before they could speak further, Valeria’s voice rang out.

“We need to keep moving. The longer we stay in one place, the greater the danger.”

The group resumed their journey, their pace quickened by the urgency in Valeria’s tone. The forest began to thin as they climbed higher into the hills, the air growing colder with each step. By nightfall, they reached a rocky outcrop overlooking a vast expanse of plains. In the distance, faint lights flickered—the camp Valeria had spoken of.

The sight brought a collective sigh of relief, but their respite was short-lived. A low, guttural growl echoed from the shadows. The survivors froze, their breath hitching.

From the darkness emerged a pack of wolves, their eyes glowing like embers. Their sleek, black coats blended seamlessly with the night, and their fangs glistened in the moonlight. They moved as one, their movements predatory and precise.

Valeria stepped forward, drawing her greatsword. The blade caught the moonlight, its faint glow returning. “Stay behind me,” she ordered, her voice steady.

Leo’s heart raced as he grabbed a fallen branch, holding it like a makeshift weapon. Finn did the same, though his hands trembled.

The wolves circled closer, their growls deepening. Valeria lunged, her sword slicing through the air with a sound that sent shivers down Leo’s spine. The first wolf fell, its body collapsing in a heap. But the others were undeterred, their hunger driving them forward.

One wolf broke from the pack, charging toward the survivors. Leo didn’t think—he acted. He swung his branch with all his might, striking the wolf across its snout. It yelped, retreating into the shadows. Finn stared at him, wide-eyed.

“I told you I’d be a Knight,” Leo said, his voice shaking but defiant.

The battle was brief but fierce. Valeria’s skill was unparalleled, her movements a blur of silver and light. When the last wolf fell, she stood tall, her chest heaving. The survivors erupted into quiet cheers, their relief palpable.

As they tended to minor injuries and prepared to continue, Valeria approached Leo. Her gaze was inscrutable, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

“You have fire in you, boy. Keep it alive,” she said before turning to lead the group once more.

Leo watched her, the spark within him growing into a flame. He didn’t know what lay ahead, but he knew one thing for certain, he wouldn’t let his story end in despair.