Leo let out a small chuckle, brushing the dust off his sleeve as he glanced around at the wolves surrounding him.
"For starters," he began, his voice carrying a casual confidence, "I'm not like the others. I'm smarter."
His eyes flicked toward the leader, studying him with a sharp gaze.
"You lot… you didn't just wander in here, did you?" He tilted his head slightly. "I can tell—you traveled far. Crossed through at least two other empires to get here."
A ripple of tension passed through the wolves. Some glanced at each other, ears twitching, while others stiffened as if caught off guard.
Leo smirked.
"And not just that," he continued, his tone turning almost playful, "you're desperate."
The leader's expression darkened, his jaw tightening, but Leo wasn't done.
"If I narrow things down even more, there's only one real conclusion." His smirk widened, his emerald eyes gleaming with amusement.
"You're being hunted."
Silence. Heavy and suffocating.
Some of the wolves instinctively tensed, claws flexing, while others turned to their leader as if waiting for confirmation. The weight of Leo's words lingered in the air, undeniable and sharp.
The leader, however, remained motionless, his piercing eyes locked onto Leo, unreadable yet cautious.
Leo held his gaze, unbothered, the smirk never leaving his face.
Leo let out a small sigh, stretching his arms as if this conversation was getting too easy for him.
"And since you've stopped advancing… just wandering around this forest for a while," he continued, his smirk widening, "I can safely assume whatever you're looking for is somewhere in here."
His gaze locked onto the leader's, sharp and knowing.
"So, is that enough for you, or should I keep going?" Leo tilted his head, his smirk deepening.
The leader studied him in silence, his piercing eyes unreadable. A few seconds passed before he finally exhaled, shoulders relaxing just slightly.
"Fine."
The single word was enough to make Sasha snap.
"Brother!" she burst out, eyes blazing with disbelief. "Do you seriously trust this bastard?!"
The leader's expression hardened instantly as he turned to her.
"No." His voice was firm, unshaken. "I don't."
Sasha gritted her teeth. "Then why—?"
The leader's gaze shifted to Sasha, his tone calm yet firm.
"Sasha, tell me—how long have we been searching?"
She hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Six months."
The leader nodded slowly. "Six months…" His voice lingered on the words before he continued, his expression darkening.
"And in those six months, tell me—how much progress have we made?"
Sasha opened her mouth but quickly shut it, lowering her gaze. Silence.
The leader exhaled, his frustration barely hidden.
"Six months since we left our home… and two whole months wasted in this damned forest."
His sharp gaze swept over the gathered wolves.
"And what do we have to show for it? Nothing. No leads. No direction. We don't even know what we're searching for."
A heavy stillness settled over the group. No one dared to speak. The weight of his words hung over them like a storm waiting to break.
The leader suddenly snapped his fingers, then pointed straight at Leo.
"Yet, just like that… he figured out why we're here."
Leo's grin widened as he straightened his posture, standing tall as if basking in the recognition.
The leader, however, paid him no further attention. Instead, he turned to Sasha, stepping closer. He gently took her hand, his voice steady and calm.
"I understand your concerns, Sasha."
She looked up at him, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
The leader held her gaze, his tone unwavering.
"And you know it too."
Sasha hesitated, her grip tightening slightly, but she looked down, still unsure.
The leader sighed, his voice growing more serious.
"Sasha… we don't have much time left."
A tense silence followed, the weight of his words sinking in.
One of the elders finally stepped forward, his voice calm yet heavy with the weight of their predicament.
"We don't like this either."
The leader and Sasha turned to him as he continued.
"But let's face the truth—this isn't the end. The Empire won't just accept defeat and walk away. They'll send more knights, stronger ones. And we can't keep running forever."
Sasha clenched her fists, her frustration evident. "I know that! But still—"
The leader's voice cut through her hesitation.
"Sasha." His tone was steady, unwavering. "Do you trust me?"
Her lips parted, but no words came. After a few tense moments, she exhaled sharply and gave a small nod.
The leader's expression softened. "Good—"
But before he could finish, Leo rolled his eyes and groaned.
"Are you guys done with the sentimental drama?"
Both Sasha and the leader snapped their gazes toward him.
Leo crossed his arms. "Look, if you wanna have a heart-to-heart, do it later. Right now, we've got a bigger problem—like getting the hell out of here before the next wave of knights arrives."
Silence fell over the group, but this time, it was laced with urgency.
The leader's voice cut through the tense silence.
"Enough. Gather what you can—we're moving out."
The wolves wasted no time, stripping the fallen knights of their supplies and armor, their movements swift and practiced. As the moon climbed higher, casting its silver glow over the battlefield, the pack prepared to vanish into the night.
Then, a few wolf soldiers emerged from the shadows, dragging the battered commander forward. He was barely conscious, blood dripping from his wounds, his once-defiant eyes now dull with exhaustion.
The leader stepped toward him, blade in hand, his expression unreadable.
Without hesitation, he raised his weapon, ready to deliver the final blow.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa—hold up!" Leo interjected, stepping forward.
The leader didn't even glance at him, but Sasha turned, folding her arms with an irritated scoff. "What's your problem now?"
Leo sighed dramatically, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "You're seriously just gonna waste him like that?"
Sasha's ears twitched at his words. "Waste?"
Leo shook his head, muttering under his breath, "Guess a pack of beasts is still just beasts."
Sasha's eyes flashed dangerously. "The hell did you just say?"
Leo smirked, unfazed by her growing anger. "Relax, relax. I just mean—why kill him when we could use him?
" He gestured lazily toward the commander. "A hostage is way more valuable than a corpse, don't you think?"
The leader paused, his blade hovering just above the commander's throat.
Here's a more engaging version with better spacing and flow:
The leader exhaled, his grip on the sword loosening slightly.
"That's why we have him."
He motioned toward Adrian, who was still unconscious.
Leo blinked, then dragged a hand down his face in disbelief.
"You're kidding me… You seriously think he's a better bargaining chip than Goldy over here?"
He jerked his thumb toward the barely-breathing commander.
Sasha scoffed.
"What difference does it make? A hostage is a hostage."
Leo let out a slow, tired sigh.
"For you guys, maybe. But humans don't work that way."
The wolves exchanged confused glances.
Leo smirked.
"Listen up. For humans, a person's worth isn't measured by strength or loyalty. It's about one of two things—fame or name—and Goldy here?"
He nudged the commander with his foot.
"He might not be a big deal himself, but his family is. Otherwise, do you really think he'd be sitting pretty as a commander? Doesn't matter how skilled someone is—if they've got the right bloodline, doors open for them."
The leader's eyes narrowed as he absorbed Leo's words.
Leo chuckled.
"Take me, for example. Do you really think I'd still be breathing if my name wasn't Radiance? If I were just some random Civilian, they would've strangled me in my crib the second I was born."
He turned toward Adrian, meeting his furious glare with an easy smirk.
"But this guy?" Leo continued, gesturing at him lazily.
"Adrian Westfield? He's a nobody. No powerful family, no big name. He could disappear tomorrow, and the only ones who'd care are his drinking buddies—assuming he even has any."
Silence hung heavy in the air.
The leader studied Leo, deep in thought.
Sasha clenched her fists, biting her lip, but didn't argue.
The leader stood still for a few moments, his expression unreadable. Then, after a slow exhale, he gave the order.
"Take him in as a prisoner."
Sasha scowled but didn't argue. As much as she hated it, Leo had a point.
Leo watched as the wolves dragged the unconscious commander away, then turned to leader, who was already shifting his gaze toward Adrian.
"And him?" Leader asked.
Leo crouched down, studying Adrian's unconscious form.
"He might be worthless to the empire," Leo said, then smirked. "But for me? He's got some use. Let's keep him alive... for now."
Leader didn't respond, clearly indifferent.
Leo dusted off his hands and stretched out a hand toward leader.
"Alright, let's start fresh. Name's Leo. Leo Radiance."
Leaders eyes flickered to the outstretched hand. He didn't take it.
Instead, he turned, walking away with a simple parting remark—
"Kieran. That's my name."
Leo let out a half-hearted laugh, his hand still hanging awkwardly in the air.
"Guess no handshake for me, huh?"
He dropped his hand, grinning, though there was a hint of annoyance in his tone.
"Well, at least tell me what you're looking for."
Kieran stopped abruptly, his back still turned to Leo. After a moment of silence, he spoke, his voice smooth but unwavering.
"We don't know exactly what we're looking for... but we have a rough idea of where it might be."
Leo's curiosity piqued, his eyes narrowing.
"Really now? Well, that makes things a lot easier. So, where is it?"
Kieran slowly tilted his head toward the sky, his eyes fixing on the moon above.
Leo followed his gaze, confusion flickering across his face.
"What's with the moon?"
Kieran didn't answer right away. He just stood there, his silhouette stark against the night.
Leo shot him a puzzled look.
Kieran's eyebrow arched, his expression slightly amused, as though daring Leo to figure it out.
Leo's eyes returned to the moon. The pieces slowly clicked into place.
His face paled as he realized the implication.
"Wait... are you serious?"
Kieran's gaze remained steady, and though he said nothing, his slight smirk said it all.