Unbeknownst to the squad venturing deep into the forest, their commotion had attracted the attention of a patrol party.

David knelt in the tall grasses, his heart pounding with grief and anger. The child’s lifeless body was burned into his memory, the scream of his final moment echoing in his ears. His fists tightened at his sides, a faint glow of magic flickering across his fingers as he fought to maintain his composure. Around him, his scouts crouched low, their faces a mixture of fury and disbelief.

“Captain, they killed him!” Maren, the youngest of the group, hissed through clenched teeth. “He was just a child. We can’t let them get away with this!”

David exhaled deeply, forcing himself to speak calmly despite the storm raging within him. “I know, Maren. But we can’t act recklessly. Look at what they’re carrying. Those… tools.” He gestured toward the intruders, his voice dropping lower. “Weapons that can kill faster than any magic we’ve ever seen. We don’t know what else they’re capable of.”

Kael, the most experienced scout, growled. “Then what? We just let them wander freely? They’ll head for the castle, I’m sure of it.”

David shook his head. “No. We don’t let them wander freely, but we can’t take them head-on. Not yet. First, we warn General Valrok. He needs to know about this.”

Standing slowly, David extended his hands, and golden light began to swirl around him. The energy gathered and merged, forming a glowing sigil before shaping into a white pigeon. Its wings shimmered faintly as it hovered in the air, waiting for his command.

“Take this message to General Valrok,” David whispered, brushing two fingers lightly over the bird’s glowing head. “Tell him of the trespassers. They carry fire spitting metal rods, capable of bloodshed quicker than any magic. Tell him they killed a child of the kingdom and are heading toward the castle, going after the Totem and the Vitaelix Elixir.”

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The pigeon cooed softly before taking flight, its glowing form disappearing into the sky. David watched it go for a moment before turning to his scouts, his expression hard and resolute. “Now, we follow them. Stay hidden. I want to know exactly where they’re going and what they plan to do.”

Kael nodded, gripping the hilt of his blade tightly. “Understood, Captain.”

The scouts moved like shadows, their footsteps silent as they weaved through the grasses and trees. David kept his focus on the trespassers, their heavy boots crushing plants and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Every careless step felt like a violation of the land he had sworn to protect.

“Captain,” Maren whispered as they crept along the edge of the forest. “Do you think they’ll make it to the castle? What if they reach the Totem?”

David’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know. But we can’t let them roam unchecked. These people… they don’t just have strength—we’ve seen that. They have weapons that can kill before we even see it coming. That’s why we need the General.”

As they pressed forward, Ms. Tesse’s voice carried back to them, cold and commanding. “We need to move faster. Bron, send someone ahead to scout the forest. Find a place to set up camp. Tomorrow, assemble your squad, we shall head to the kingdom and discuss with the leaders. Oh, and… contact Maverick to send in squadrons, in case things don’t work out.”

David’s grip on his spear tightened at her words. He exchanged a glance with Kael, whose expression mirrored his own unease. This wasn’t just a group of travelers—they were organized, methodical, and dangerous. Worst of all, there might be more of them.

Lyra, another scout, leaned in close. “Captain, what if they’re stronger than we think? Even with the General’s forces, can we stop them?”

David’s eyes narrowed as he turned back to the intruders, now disappearing deeper into the forest. “I don’t know, Lyra. But what I do know is this: they’ve spilled innocent blood on our land. We’ll make sure they pay for that, one way or another.”

The group fell silent, their anger and grief fueling their resolve as they trailed the strangers. The air grew heavier with every step, the weight of the child’s death hanging over them. Whatever lay ahead, David knew one thing for certain: this was no ordinary encounter. This was an invasion.