CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  The scent of blood still clung to the wind as Al led the group away from the battlefield, their boots crunching against the damp earth, which was still soaked with fresh and dried blood. The once lively greenery surrounding them had turned into a macabre display of torn limbs, shattered weapons, and the occasional flickering embers of charred corpses. The stench of death was overwhelming, seeping into their very souls with each passing second. They moved quickly, but the images of dismembered bodies, fallen men, and the pained cries of the dying clung to the girls like shadows. Every rustle in the trees, every distant howl of the wind, felt like a lingering specter of the battle they had barely survived. The dwarfs could still hear the sharp clang of steel against steel echoing in his mind, the desperate gasps of wounded men, and the monstrous roars of the creature slain and the horror they underwent during captivity.

  Every step away from the site of carnage was a step towards safety, but Al knew better than to feel relief. They had been marked. The mercenary leader had seen them, and that alone was an ill omen. He clenched his fists, knowing that even though they had won this battle, they would be hunted down, the leader of the mercenary was ruthless and unforgiving. He would even chase them toward the ends of the earth, but that wasn't important right now, he already had a lot of hurdles he needed to overcome to achieve his goals and every minute he wasted without being stronger and halting the evil ones plans puts the world at risk.

  "We have to keep moving," Al muttered, his voice grim. He stole a glance at the dwarven girls on their backs, their small frames trembling despite the layers of rough fabric they wore. It wasn’t just their safety at stake; a war between dwarves and humans would be catastrophic.

  The unrelenting command of Alexandri forced them to press on, even as their muscles burned under the weight of the dwarves and the added burden of the weighted training bags strapped to their backs. They sprinted as if their lives depended on it—because they did.

  At last, Alexandri called for a halt in a clearing deep within the dense forest. The humid air wrapped around them like a second skin as they caught their breath. The soldiers he had sent for would meet them soon to escort the girls back to the dwarf kingdom.

  The dwarven girls clambered down, each of them offering their thanks. One among them, more vocal than the rest, stepped forward. "I am Elaine D’ymyr, daughter of Chief D’ymyr," she announced, her sharp amber eyes locking onto Al’s.

  Al met her gaze, sensing something more than gratitude in her expression.

  "I must say," she continued, stepping closer, "your existence is… unexpected." Her eyes scanned him, noting his unusual skin tone and the fluidity with which he had wielded both aura and magic. "You are Alcateen. And yet, you wield magic. That should not be possible."

  Al stiffened. Everyone knew the truth about his kind—that they had lost their magic long ago. And yet, here he was, defying history itself. The weight of her words settled on him like an immovable burden. He had known the risks, but hearing them spoken aloud by someone of her stature made them all the more real.

  Elaine’s sharp gaze flickered toward Shin. "And you… You wield aura with a level of control far beyond what I have seen, even among seasoned warriors. The way you fight—it’s instinctual, but refined. It has power, but also restraint. That is rare." Her voice held a note of respect. "Aura can be destructive, but yours… yours carries an almost terrifying precision. It’s not something one is simply born with. It is honed, shaped by something deeper."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Shin remained silent, absorbing her words. He knew his training had pushed him beyond his limits, but to have it recognized by someone from the outside felt strangely validating.

  The Alcateen shouldn’t be able to wield magic or this kind of power but I witnessed something that most would call a miracle or a disaster.

  Elaine lowered her voice, her expression serious. "Do you realize the danger your existence poses? If word got out... the world would see you as an anomaly, a threat. Even your own people would be in danger."

  Alexandri stepped forward, his usual stoic demeanor is unshaken. "She’s right," he said. "You must keep your magic a secret. If your enemies knew, they would use it against you."

  Elaine nodded. "That’s not all. I believe there is a traitor among my people. My sisters and I were ambushed—too precise, too well-planned. Someone knew where we would be. I heard a name mentioned, but I couldn’t make it out. Whoever they are, they won’t stop just because we’re safe now. They might still try to kill me and blame it on humans to ignite war."

  She took a deep breath, her fingers curling into fists at her sides. "This was no random attack. We were targeted. The men who ambushed us acted with certainty, with purpose. They knew the terrain, they knew our routes, and they knew we would be there at that exact time. That means someone fed them information. Someone from within the dwarf kingdom."

  Her voice turned cold as she continued, "My father has ruled for many years, but there are those who believe he has been in power for too long. There have been whispers of dissent, rumors that some want to see him removed. If someone wants my father’s position, what better way to weaken him than by taking me out of the picture? A direct attack on him would be too risky, too obvious. But me? An ambush while out hunting, a tragic death at the hands of humans… It would serve as the perfect excuse for war. My father would be weakened, thrown into grief and rage, unable to see clearly. And in the chaos that follows, his enemies would strike."

  She stared back at Al, her gaze intense. With gleaming eyes, he looked so handsome and way more impressive than the dwarf boys back at home. His physique and look were something most young males or full-grown adults only dream of having. As she whispered and giggled with the other girls.

  Elaine turned to both Al and Shin, her eyes fierce. "I owe you both my life. You saved me and my sisters when we were powerless. For that, I am forever in your debt." Al then glanced at her with a calm expression. "And you… you saved me. Do not forget that. That last attack from the elder wyvern—it would have made me immobile and left me gravely injured if you hadn't intervened. So for that, I’m grateful ."

  "Remember what I told you," she said, her voice carrying an undeniable warning. "The world is not kind to those who do not fit into its order. Keep your secret safe, or you may not live to regret it. And if you ever visit the dwarf kingdom, ask for me. I will be waiting."

  Elaine gave him one last knowing look before departing with the knights. As they rode off, Alexandri turned to Al and Shin.

  Al watched as they rode off, the weight of her words pressing against his chest. What had she meant by that last whisper?

  Alexandri assured them both that their secret was safe, he instructed the girls to say that they were saved by him when he was undergoing his secluded training as no one knew he was in the marsh and that he came across them when he heard the sound of the wyvern. Also, they were safe from the threat of the mercenary leader, for now, he told them that he was tied up somewhere else in another continent.

  "What did she tell you?" Alexandri asked as he crossed his arms.

  Al smirked, shaking his head. "Just that I should visit."

  Alexandri gave him a skeptical look but let it slide. "Now, let’s focus on the situation at hand."

  He turned to Al and Shin, his eyes sharp with expectation. "Tell me, where do you think you went wrong fighting the elder wyvern and the mercenary assassin?"

  Al swallowed. He knew they had made mistakes. The battle had dragged on longer than necessary, and they had taken more damage than they should have. But before he could answer, Alexandri continued.

  "You let the fight drag on. You had opportunities to end it quickly but hesitated. That hesitation cost you. I’m increasing the difficulty of your training. The competition is in a week. Your current skills won’t amount to much up against most of the combatants."

  Al and Shin exchanged glances, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten. Their paths were only growing more dangerous and wider than they expected or planned, and there was no time to waste.

  "Now," Alexandri said, eyes gleaming with expectation. "Tell me where you made your errors."