Shattered Loyalties

Chapter 8: Shattered Loyalties

The Caelus stronghold had fallen, its gates shattered by Aeris's relentless assault, the air thick with the remnants of his power. Ice-coated bodies littered the ground, the soldiers of the Caelus family frozen in place, their lifeless forms encased in crystalized tombs. It was a victory, yes, but the weight of it hung heavy on Aeris's chest. The cold of the battlefield seemed to seep into his very soul, reminding him of the path he had chosen.

As Aeris stood in the center of the decimated courtyard, his eyes scanned the horizon. The once-proud fortress now lay in ruins, and yet the taste of triumph was bitter. Isolde, the head of the Caelus family, was nowhere to be found. Aeris had expected a direct confrontation, but it had been too easy—almost too simple. The lack of resistance left him with an unsettling feeling, a gnawing sense that something was missing.

"Lord Aeris…" Elysia's voice broke through his thoughts, her footsteps crunching on the frozen earth as she approached. "The Caelus forces are in disarray. Their remaining troops are retreating. We've won."

Aeris turned to face her, his icy gaze not betraying a hint of satisfaction. His powers had decisively overwhelmed Isolde's, but he couldn't shake the feeling that the battle had been too one-sided. "Isolde's absence doesn't sit right with me," he muttered. "Something doesn't add up."

Elysia's brow furrowed in concern. "Perhaps she saw the writing on the wall and fled. She's a cunning strategist, after all."

Aeris shook his head. "No. She wouldn't abandon her own people so easily. There's something else going on here. I'll find her, even if it means digging through every corner of this fortress."

As he spoke, his attention was drawn to a small group of Caelus soldiers, who had managed to regroup at the far side of the courtyard. They stood with their hands raised in surrender, their faces marked by fear and uncertainty. Aeris's presence alone was enough to send a chill through them, his reputation as a rising power preceding him.

"Mercy…" one of the soldiers muttered, his voice trembling. "Please, Lord Solis, show mercy…"

Aeris's lips curled into a cold smile. "Mercy? You would ask for mercy after your family's role in the massacre of innocents along the trade routes? After all the blood that's been spilled?" He took a step closer, his icy aura radiating from him like a frozen storm. "Mercy is a luxury that only those with the strength to afford it can claim."

The soldier flinched, but Aeris didn't wait for a response. With a single flick of his wrist, he summoned a wall of ice that enclosed the soldiers in a frozen prison. Their fate was sealed, their pleas lost in the wind as they were left to succumb to the harsh elements.

"Prepare the men," Aeris said to Elysia, his voice unwavering. "We move out immediately. The Caelus family is finished, but this war is far from over."

---

Later that night, as the camp was set up outside the remnants of the Caelus fortress, Aeris stood alone, staring at the pale glow of the moon against the snow-covered landscape. The weight of his decisions pressed down on him, but he couldn't allow himself the luxury of doubt. He had made a choice, and there was no turning back now.

Elysia approached quietly, her footsteps muffled by the thick snow. "Aeris," she said softly, her tone hesitant. "You've done what needed to be done. The Caelus family was a threat, and you've eliminated it. But… you've left a trail of blood behind you. People will remember this."

Aeris's gaze remained fixed on the horizon. "Let them remember. I don't care what people think. I only care about what I need to do to secure the future of the Solis family."

Elysia sighed, her eyes filled with concern. "But at what cost, Aeris? You're becoming more ruthless with every step you take. The world won't forgive you for what you've done. And neither will your conscience."

Aeris turned to face her, his eyes colder than ever. "Conscience? The world doesn't have the luxury of conscience. Power doesn't wait for anyone to feel sorry. If you're not willing to take it, you'll be left behind."

Elysia's expression hardened. "And where does that path lead, Aeris? To the throne? To becoming everything you've fought against?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked past her, his gaze distant as if searching for something beyond the present. "I'll do whatever it takes to win. To protect the people I care about. If that means becoming something others fear, then so be it."

Elysia studied him closely, her eyes filled with a mix of admiration and sorrow. She had seen this change in him, the shift from a reluctant heir to a man willing to break the rules to achieve his goals. But she couldn't help but wonder—how far would he go? How much of his humanity would he lose in the process?

"I just hope you're not losing yourself along the way," she whispered.

Aeris didn't respond. Instead, he turned away and walked into the camp, his mind already on the next move. The war was far from over, and he knew that every decision he made from here on out would carve a deeper path toward his ultimate goal. But as the cold winds of the northern territories howled around him, he couldn't shake the feeling that, one day, he would have to confront the cost of his ambition. And that day, perhaps, would come sooner than he expected.

---

Skill Name: Frozen Dominion

Aeris's mastery over ice has reached its peak. By using this skill, he can claim dominion over any terrain he walks upon, freezing the very ground beneath his feet and manipulating the temperature in his immediate area. This allows him to control the battlefield, creating ice walls, spikes, and barriers for both offense and defense. His Dominion also allows him to command the ice around him, turning it into weapons or traps, and slowing or freezing enemies within his reach. The more focused his mind, the more control he has over his surroundings.