Day 6 (Night)

  As the roaring wall of fire subsided, Kalenor’s breath steadied, relief briefly washing over him. Emerging from the flames was a striking figure clad in blackened plate armor. The armor’s surface bore the faint sheen of ash and soot, evidence of both the wearer’s battles and her connection to the Cleansing Flame. Her hair, a rich chestnut shade tinged with reddish hues, glistened in the light of her fire as she stepped forward with purpose.

  The Crystalspine hissed, its warped crystalline scales shimmering with unnatural decay, before retreating into the shadowed depths of the forest. The figure in the mist, the woman in the ocean-blue gown, lingered for a moment longer, her single horn glinting ominously in the firelight. Then, as though sensing the danger, she too vanished into the fog, disappearing alongside the corrupted beast.

  Kalenor, his body aching from previous battles, moved swiftly to the gate. He signaled the guards to open it and stepped forward to greet the newcomer. As the heavy gates creaked open, the woman in the blackened armor strode in, her commanding presence radiating an aura of both strength and authority.

  She halted just a few steps inside, her piercing amber eyes locking onto Kalenor’s. “I am Lyra Ixchalla,” she said, her voice steady and firm.

  Kalenor blinked, momentarily taken aback. “Ixchalla?” he repeated. “You’re from Halor?”

  She nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I am. It’s rare, I know, but the flame reaches all corners of this world.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Kalenor took a moment to process this. The Scalesworn of Ignisaros were formidable, but seeing one hailing from Halor, a continent so distant and mysterious, was unexpected. He inclined his head in respect. “I am Kalenor Thalarrin, Scalesworn of Morbitral. Welcome to Hallowglen, though I wish it were under better circumstances.”

  “Are there more of you?” Kalenor asked, glancing past her.

  “No,” she replied, her tone calm but resolute. “They didn’t think we needed more than me.”

  Kalenor’s lips tightened into a thin line, his unease evident. “Then let me brief you on what we’re up against,” he said, motioning for her to follow him toward the main hall.

  Inside, Kalenor recounted the events of the past six days—the appearance of the woman in blue, the emergence of the husks, the corrupted beasts, and the desperate struggle to keep the village standing. Lyra listened intently, her sharp gaze never leaving him as he spoke.

  When he finished, her eyes fell to the large scars crisscrossing his arms and chest, visible even through the tattered parts of his clothing. “You’ve been through hell,” she remarked.

  Kalenor gave a faint, humorless chuckle. “It hasn’t exactly been a vacation,” he said. “But I’m still standing.”

  Lyra placed a gauntleted hand on his shoulder. “You’ve done well to keep this village alive, Kalenor. But you need rest. I’ll take the first watch tonight. We’ll need your strength if we’re to end this plague.”

  Kalenor hesitated, his pride warring with his exhaustion. “And what of you? You traveled here alone, and I’m sure you’ve faced your own challenges along the way.”

  “I have,” she admitted, “but I’m not the one bleeding from a dozen wounds. Rest, Scalesworn. You’ve earned it.”

  Kalenor sighed, recognizing the truth in her words. “Fine,” he relented. “But before I go… the woman in blue. Do you think she’s the cause of this?”

  Lyra’s expression darkened, her gaze hardening. “I’ve seen enough corruption to know that figures like her are always more than they appear. If she’s not the cause, she’s certainly a part of it.”

  Kalenor’s jaw tightened. “That’s what I feared. She’s been watching us, waiting for something.”

  Lyra nodded solemnly. “Whatever she’s waiting for, we won’t let her have it.”

  As the first rays of dawn approached, Lyra took her position on the wall, her fiery blade still smoldering faintly in the early light. Kalenor returned to his quarters at the inn, allowing his body to rest for the first time in days. The village was quiet, but an unspoken tension hung in the air.

  For the first time in six days, Hallowglen had a chance.