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The carriage rolled slowly along the old stone path. Lysa, silent, held the reins, while Ishi remained inside, seated cross-legged with his eyes closed. Outside, the wind blew gently, carrying the scent of fresh earth and pine. Hills lined the horizon, peaceful. But within Ishi's soul, nothing was calm.
He felt the dull throb of vengeance pulsing inside him. With every turn of the wheel, he drew closer to the tournament… and to Calwyn.
But first, they had to pass through Valtir, a hillside town known for its spice market and hot springs. Nothing impressive… except for one thing: the leader of Valtir, Ludger Karhal, was once an officer in their army. Retired since the war, he had chosen to isolate himself in this small town, far from the intrigues of power.
Officially.
"Ludger… you abandoned me too," Ishi murmured, eyes still shut. "You looked away."
The carriage stopped at the entrance to Valtir. Lysa jumped down, went to pay the toll, while Ishi stayed back. He donned a simple grey cloak, hiding his face beneath a quiet shadow.
"I'll scout ahead," she said in a low voice.
He nodded. He had time. The night would be long.
Valtir was peaceful, smiling, alive. Children ran through the alleys. Merchants sang slogans to attract buyers. The scent of warm bread and citrus hung in the air.
And yet… Ishi hated this kind of calm. He saw it as an illusion. A coat of paint on a rotting corpse.
"Traitors know how to hide," he thought.
Lysa returned at dusk. She approached without a sound.
"Confirmed. Ludger is here. He's the village mayor—respected, loved. He has a son and a daughter. Their mother died two years ago. He lives in a large house at the top of the hill, guarded by six soldiers."
"And the others? Veterans?"
"None. Just merchants, farmers, craftsmen."
Ishi sighed deeply.
"Perfect."
He stood, threw on his cloak, and walked slowly toward the village center. No one paid him any attention. He looked like an ordinary traveler. People smiled and greeted him. He didn't answer.
When night fell, the massacre began.
First, the gates—barred, destroyed. Then the wells—poisoned. He slipped into homes, silent, slitting throats, muffling screams. Lysa, in the shadows, eliminated sentries, set traps, blocked escape routes.
One by one, the torches went out.
Valtir became a silent tomb.
Then Ishi made his way to the great house where Ludger slept. He entered without a sound, bypassed the traps, gutted two guards, and sat on the main chair in the lounge, back to the door. He waited.
Ludger's footsteps echoed down the stairs.
"What… who are you?"
He lit a lantern. The light revealed Ishi's face.
Shock froze Ludger in place.
"Ishi…? That's impossible… you're dead."
"Almost," Ishi replied, smiling. "But I trained somewhere… you can't imagine."
He stood. Ludger tried to flee, but Lysa caught him from behind and knocked him out. When he woke, he was tied to a chair, his hands nailed to the wood.
"I won't kill you quickly, Ludger. You owe me answers… why. Why did you let me die? Why did you say nothing? Do nothing?"
"Ishi… I… I was afraid. They said you were dangerous. That you'd betray the crown…"
"And you believed them."
He cut off a finger. Then another. The torture lasted until dawn. Not for information. Just for the moment. The moment Ludger realized it was over. That there would be no forgiveness. No peace.
Ishi killed him at sunrise.
The next day, Valtir did not awaken. There was no one left. Silence reigned in the alleys. Ash blackened the wells. Roofs had collapsed, stones were charred.
The carriage rolled on, with Ishi and Lysa aboard.
But the world was not deaf.
In the main kingdom of Calwyn, a messenger arrived screaming. He spoke of Valtir. Of a complete massacre. Hundreds of headless bodies. Symbols drawn on walls in blood.
"Hell walks among us," he said.
The council assembled urgently. Calwyn, ever calm, asked for details.
"The village was peaceful. No sign of outside enemies. And yet… it was eradicated. The only clue: a message carved into the mayor's door."
He handed over the parchment.
"I have returned. Prepare yourselves."
Silence fell.
"Could it be… Ishi Crush?" asked one of the heroes.
"Impossible," said Rosha. "He's dead."
But Calwyn frowned. Because deep down, a dull fear rose within him. He knew that if anyone could come back… it would be him.
He stood.
"Send messengers to all territories. Issue a red alert. Warn the other heroes. And double the security around the tournament."
"You really think it's him?"
He looked to the sky.
"I don't know. But… if it is… then we must be ready. Because Hell never comes alone."
And as the kingdom braced itself, Ishi's carriage rolled slowly toward the tournament. Toward the heart of power. Toward the final battlefield.
And behind him, the flames rose higher.