The path to the hidden village was narrow and steep. Trees bent overhead like silent witnesses, their twisted roots grasping at Kael's boots. Every step was a reminder—this journey wasn't just about survival anymore.
It was war.
They arrived at dusk.
The village was buried in mist, nestled between cliffs that shielded it from view. Lanterns glowed faintly in shuttered windows, and the few people they saw kept their heads down.
Kael knocked on the door of the largest house, where an old crest marked with a silver crescent was carved into the frame.
The door opened.
A woman in her fifties—scarred, weary, but with fierce eyes—met his gaze.
"You've walked through Black Hollow," she said. "That scent doesn't leave easy."
Kael didn't flinch. "We're looking for a man. Rath Veylor."
Her expression darkened. "Then you've come to die."
---
Ashes of the Past
Inside, by firelight, the woman introduced herself.
"Calen Varra. Once a captain under the old Republic."
She poured tea, though her hands shook. "Rath Veylor was my commander. Until he betrayed us."
Kael leaned in. "Tell me everything."
Calen stared at the flames. "He led a purge. Said we were cleansing the bloodlines of corruption. Families disappeared overnight—yours wasn't the only one. But when the Empire caught wind of it, they tried to execute him."
"They failed," Kael said darkly.
"Yes. He vanished. And the Red Creed was born."
Calen stood, retrieving a rolled scroll from behind a shelf. "You need to see this."
---
The Creed's Edict
The scroll was made of treated leather. When Kael unrolled it, he felt the pulse of blood magic under his fingertips.
There were hundreds of names. Some crossed out. Some still glowing.
Kael found his family's name.
Elira's too.
"These were targets," he muttered.
"Yes," Calen confirmed. "Chosen by the Creed. They think they're purifying the land."
Kael's jaw clenched. "Where is he now?"
Calen looked him dead in the eye.
"He's rebuilding. In the fortress of Grathmoor. And he's waiting for you."
---
The Weight of a Choice
That night, Kael stood alone on the edge of the village, watching the stars.
Elira joined him. "You could let it go."
"No," he whispered. "I could die tomorrow and not regret a thing… but if he breathes one more day, I will never rest."
She placed a hand on his. "Then I'm with you."
Riven walked up behind them, carrying a black blade wrapped in cloth. "We'll need allies. Grathmoor's not just a fortress—it's a graveyard waiting to be filled."
Kael looked at them both.
His voice was quiet, resolute.
> "Then let's write the final chapter."
To be continue...