Interlude

Her words hit the group like a cold shower. Silence fell instantly, and even the angry woman froze, her eyes widening in surprise.

"A Chosen?" the bearded man repeated, stunned. "Are you serious?"

The injured woman looked up at her companions, her face etched with pain but also a cold resignation. "We were lucky," she murmured, her gaze drifting into the distance. "She could have wiped us out without even lifting a finger."

The angry woman narrowed her eyes, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "Damn it!" She clenched her fists, her face twisting with restrained fury. "These Chosen think they're gods, but they're no better than us," she spat, her words laced with venom.

Her smile turned into a grimace of rage.

A heavy silence settled between them, broken by the man who had shown signs of fear earlier. "What if... what if we went to see Maira? She's a Chosen too. Maybe she could help us get back at her."