The ride back to the Crimson Citadel was tense. Though victorious, the encounter with Marcus had left an unsettling mark on everyone. Lucian's decision to spare him hung in the air like a storm cloud, and Selene's silence spoke volumes. She rode ahead, her eyes fixed on the horizon, her mind clearly elsewhere.
Lyra, sensing the unease, nudged her horse closer to Lucian's. "You're thinking about Marcus, aren't you?"
Lucian gave a faint nod. "We've delayed the rebellion, not stopped it. Marcus will regroup, and next time, he won't be so reckless."
"He's proud, but he's not stupid," Lyra said thoughtfully. "He knows he can't win alone. He'll seek out stronger allies."
Selene slowed her pace, falling in line with them. Her expression was unreadable, but her tone was sharp. "Letting him go was a mistake."
"I spared him because killing him would have turned him into a martyr," Lucian said calmly. "His cause would gain more traction if his death were seen as a symbol of defiance."
Selene didn't look convinced. "Perhaps. But mercy has a way of backfiring when dealing with men like Marcus."
The trio rode in silence for a while, the tension palpable. As they neared the citadel, a scout approached from the east, his expression urgent.
"Lord Lucian!" he called, his horse galloping toward them. "There's been a disturbance in the eastern villages. An unknown force attacked at dawn."
Lucian's eyes narrowed. "Casualties?"
"Minimal, but the attackers weren't ordinary raiders. They moved with precision, targeting specific households. Survivors claim they were looking for something—or someone."
Selene's gaze darkened. "Could it be the Onyx Wolves?"
"Unlikely," Lyra said. "They wouldn't attack so openly, not without Marcus's backing. This sounds like something more... calculated."
Lucian dismounted, his mind racing. If the attack wasn't random, it meant someone was deliberately trying to destabilize the region. And whoever it was, they weren't afraid to leave a trail.
"We need to investigate this personally," Lucian said. "Selene, gather a small group of trusted warriors. Lyra, you'll come with me. We leave at once."
The eastern villages were eerily quiet when they arrived. The once-bustling streets were deserted, save for a few wary eyes peering out from behind shuttered windows. Scorch marks marred several buildings, and the air still smelled of smoke and ash.
Lucian approached an elderly man sitting by the remnants of a destroyed home. "What happened here?" he asked gently.
The old man looked up, fear and exhaustion etched into his face. "They came at dawn. Cloaked figures, moving like shadows. They didn't steal or burn much—just asked questions."
"Questions about what?" Lyra pressed.
The man hesitated, glancing around nervously. "They were looking for someone. A girl. Said she was important."
Lucian exchanged a look with Selene. "Did they find her?"
"No," the man said quickly. "She fled before they arrived. But they'll come back. They always do."
Lucian's mind churned. A girl important enough to warrant such an attack? It didn't add up. But one thing was clear—they needed to find her before the enemy did.
"Where was she last seen?"
The old man pointed toward the forest at the edge of the village. "She headed that way. But be careful. The woods have grown strange since the last full moon. Dark things stir in the shadows."
Lucian thanked the man and turned to his companions. "We don't have much time. If they're still hunting her, she won't survive alone for long."
Selene tightened her grip on her bow. "Then let's move quickly."
---
They ventured into the forest, the canopy above casting everything in twilight. The air grew colder with every step, and an unnatural silence enveloped the woods. Even the usual sounds of wildlife were absent, replaced by an eerie stillness.
Lyra shivered. "Something's wrong here. I can feel it."
Lucian drew his sword, its blade gleaming faintly in the dim light. "Stay alert. We don't know what we're dealing with."
As they pressed deeper into the forest, they came across a small clearing. At its center stood a lone figure—a young girl, barely in her teens, with hair as dark as midnight and eyes that seemed to glow faintly in the shadows.
She turned to face them, fear etched into her delicate features. "Stay back!" she warned, her voice trembling but resolute. "They'll find me if you stay too long!"
Lucian raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "We're not here to harm you. We're here to help. Who are you running from?"
The girl hesitated, her gaze flickering between them. "The shadow hunters. They're after me because of what I am."
Selene stepped forward cautiously. "And what are you?"
The girl took a deep breath, and in that moment, the air around her seemed to shift. Shadows coiled around her like living entities, and her eyes glowed brighter. "I'm a seer. I can glimpse the future... and they want to control it."
Lucian's mind reeled. A seer was rare, almost mythical. If the enemy sought to use her powers, it could give them a significant advantage in the war to come.
"You're safe with us now," Lucian said firmly. "We'll protect you."
The girl's expression softened slightly, though fear still lingered in her eyes. "You don't understand. They're not just after me. They're after the prophecy. And if they succeed, it won't just be me who's in danger—it will be the entire world.