The streets of Eldwyn were quiet once again, though the silence was now heavy with grief. Smoke lingered in the air, and the cracked cobblestones where Adam and Veylor Maldrak had clashed still radiated faint traces of residual energy. Eldwyn's elite guards had secured the area, their presence offering a semblance of order, but the damage had already been done.
The group stood in the shadow of a broken building near the battlefield, huddled around Duncan's lifeless body. His great axe lay beside him, bloodied but still as sturdy as its master had once been.
Seren knelt at his side, her face grim as she gently closed his eyes. Her hand lingered for a moment before she stood, her expression hardening.
"We couldn't save him," she said quietly, her voice strained with anger and guilt. "He fought until the very end, and it still wasn't enough."
Liria wiped her tear-streaked face, her hands trembling as she clutched her staff. "I… I tried to heal him. I tried, but he was already—he—" She broke off, unable to finish the sentence, her voice cracking under the weight of the moment.
Kaela stood nearby, her usually sharp tongue stilled by the gravity of the situation. She leaned heavily on her staff, her gaze fixed on the ground as if trying to block out the reality of what had happened.
Adam sat apart from the others, his back against the wall of a crumbled house. His sword rested on the ground beside him, the golden glow of his nuclear energy completely faded. His body was battered and bruised, his breathing shallow, but the pain in his chest wasn't from his injuries.
It was from failure.
Adam's Guilt
Adam's golden eyes stared at Duncan's body, his jaw tightening as he replayed the battle in his mind. Every missed opportunity, every moment where he hesitated, every second he wasn't fast or strong enough—it all burned into his memory.
"This is my fault," Adam said finally, his voice low and filled with self-loathing.
Seren turned sharply, her eyes blazing. "Don't you dare say that."
"It is," Adam insisted, his gaze still fixed on the ground. "I wasn't strong enough. If I'd been faster, stronger if I'd been able to stop Veylor before"
"You don't think we all feel that way?" Seren snapped, stepping closer. "Duncan knew what he was getting into. He chose to fight, just like the rest of us. He trusted you, Adam. We all do. Blaming yourself isn't going to bring him back."
Adam finally looked up at her, his eyes filled with frustration and pain. "Trust doesn't mean anything if I can't protect the people who put their lives on the line for me."
"Then get stronger," Seren said bluntly. Her voice softened as she added, "If this is what it takes to make you realize how much more we have to do, then let it fuel you. But don't sit here and drown in guilt. It won't help anyone."
Her words struck a chord, though the ache in Adam's chest didn't subside. He nodded slowly, his hands clenching into fists. "You're right," he said finally. "I can't let this happen again. No matter what it takes, I'll make sure no one else falls because of me."
A Warning from Eldwyn's Captain
As the group stood in mourning, Captain Vaelis, the leader of Eldwyn's defense forces, approached. He was a middle-aged man with a weathered face and a no-nonsense demeanor, his steel-gray armor marked with the insignia of Eldwyn's city guard.
"I hate to interrupt," Vaelis said, his voice grim, "but we need to talk about what just happened."
Adam stood slowly, his body protesting every movement, but he forced himself to meet the captain's gaze. "What is it?"
Vaelis sighed, his expression dark. "The cult's attack wasn't random. They were sending a message—to you. Veylor Maldrak isn't just some hired thug. He's one of the Ascended Seven, the cult's strongest enforcers. The fact that they sent him means they see you as a real threat."
"And he nearly killed us," Kaela muttered bitterly.
Vaelis nodded. "You survived, which is more than most can say. But the cult won't stop here. Now that you've made yourself their enemy, they'll come after you harder than ever."
"We're not running," Adam said firmly.
"I didn't expect you to," Vaelis replied. "But you need to understand what you're up against. The Ascended Seven aren't just powerful—they're monsters. Each one of them is a match for an army, and Veylor is far from the strongest among them."
Seren frowned. "You're saying there are worse than him?"
"Much worse," Vaelis said grimly. "And if the cult decides to send more of them after you, Eldwyn won't be able to protect you. Or itself."
Adam's jaw clenched. "Then we'll take the fight to them."
Vaelis raised an eyebrow. "That's ambitious. But if you're serious, you'll need to get stronger—fast. The next time one of them shows up, I doubt they'll let you walk away."
A Resolve to Grow
After the captain left, the group stood in heavy silence. The weight of his warning hung over them, but Adam's mind was already racing.
"Kaela," Adam said suddenly, turning to the mage. "You said you've studied the cult's operations before, right?"
Kaela nodded, though her expression was wary. "Yeah. Why?"
"I need to know everything you can tell me about them. Their strongholds, their leaders, their methods—everything."
"You're thinking about going after them," Seren said, her tone more a statement than a question.
"I'm not thinking about it," Adam said. "I'm doing it."
"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" Eryk asked, his voice sharp. "You saw what Veylor was capable of. You think you're ready to take on the rest of the Ascended Seven?"
Adam hesitated, his hands clenching at his sides. "Not yet," he admitted. "But I will be. I don't care how long it takes or how hard it is I'll get stronger. Strong enough to stop them. Strong enough to protect all of you."
"And how do you plan to do that?" Seren asked.
Adam met her gaze, his golden eyes burning with determination. "I need a teacher. Someone who can help me push past my limits. Someone who knows how to train someone like me."
Kaela frowned. "That's not going to be easy. You're not exactly... ordinary."
"Nothing about this is going to be easy," Adam said. "But that doesn't matter. I'll find a way."
The First Farewell
As the sun began to set, the group gathered in the town square to give Duncan a proper farewell. The townsfolk, who had been watching from their windows in fear, began to emerge cautiously, drawn by the sight of the group mourning one of their own.
A pyre was built in the center of the square, and Duncan's body was placed atop it, his great axe resting across his chest.
Seren lit the flames, stepping back as the fire rose, casting flickering shadows across the crowd.
"He was a good man," Seren said quietly. "He deserved better."
Adam stood silently, the flickering light of the fire reflected in his eyes. As the flames consumed Duncan's body, he made a silent vow.
I'll make this right. No one else will suffer because of my weakness. I'll stop the cult, no matter what it takes.