The dust settled over the battlefield, but the weight of the victory was heavy in Kai's chest. His legs felt as if they might give out at any moment, but he remained standing, surveying the scene. The coalition's forces had been shattered, their once-unbreakable will crushed by the fall of General Veydris. But that victory came at a cost—a cost that neither Kai nor his people would soon forget.
The soldiers, though victorious, wore the weariness of battle on their faces. Some had fallen, their blood staining the ruins where they'd fought bravely. Others stood tall, but their eyes were haunted.
"Elira," Kai called, his voice hoarse.
The archer, ever sharp and alert, made her way toward him. Her usual calm demeanor was strained, but she offered him a nod of acknowledgment. "What is it?"
"Have you seen the others?" Kai asked, his gaze drifting over the battlefield. "How many did we lose?"
Elira's eyes flicked toward the horizon, where the last of the coalition's retreating soldiers were vanishing into the distance. "We've lost too many, Kai." She paused, swallowing hard. "But… we've won the day."
Solis limped over, a hand pressed to his side where a wound still bled. His spear was dripping with enemy blood, but there was no joy in his expression. "The rest of the enemy army is retreating. It's over, for now." He grimaced as he looked at Kai, a half-smile creeping onto his face. "But I think we've earned a rest."
Kai looked down at his hands—still gripping his sword. His breath was shallow, his body drained. But he couldn't rest—not yet. Not until he knew the future of his people.
"There's no time for rest," he muttered, more to himself than to his companions. "We've won, but the war isn't over. Veydris may be dead, but there are others who'll rise to take his place."
Lyra, who had been silent until now, stepped up beside him. Her usual sharp tongue was subdued, replaced with a seriousness that was rare for her. "We know, Kai. But you did what we all thought was impossible. We'll rebuild from here. We'll find a way to keep fighting."
Kai met her eyes. "And if the next enemy is stronger than Veydris?"
Lyra's smile was a grim one. "Then we'll fight harder."
The ground beneath them shifted, and a familiar voice called out from behind.
"Elira! Kai!"
It was Lira, one of the soldiers who had survived the battle. She was holding something in her hands—an ancient scroll sealed with the insignia of the old kingdom.
"What is it?" Kai asked, narrowing his eyes.
Lira's face was pale, her fingers trembling as she handed the scroll to Kai. "It was found in the ruins, buried beneath the fallen stones. It's… it's a message from the old kings. A prophecy."
Kai took the scroll, unsealing it carefully. His eyes scanned the ancient writing, and his heart skipped a beat as he read the words aloud:
"When the black knight falls, a new darkness will rise. The rebel will face the shadows of the past, and only by uniting the fractured lands will the future be saved."
Kai's blood ran cold.
A new darkness? Shadows of the past?
"What does this mean?" Elira asked, her voice a whisper of dread.
Kai could barely breathe as he absorbed the weight of the prophecy. "It means we haven't seen the last of the enemies that threaten us. And it means there's something from the past—something we have yet to understand—that is about to return."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Lyra spoke first. "A prophecy. That's… that's a lot to deal with, Kai."
Solis, leaning on his spear, shook his head. "So, we're not done with war, then."
"No," Kai replied, his voice hardening. "We're just beginning."
The battle they had just fought was only the first chapter in a much larger story. And the pages that lay ahead would be filled with even greater challenges.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the ruins, Kai felt a fire stir within him. He had won today—but the war was far from over. And whatever darkness was coming, whatever forces had been set in motion by the prophecy, he would face it head-on.
The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear—Kai would not let his people fall. Not while he still drew breath.
"We rebuild," Kai said, his voice steady. "And we prepare for what's coming."
And with that, the path ahead was set.