Chapter 16

The squad stood among the ruins of the Ashen Order's stronghold, weary but victorious. The monstrous creature they had faced left behind no remains—only ash scattered by the wind. It was a grim reminder of the dark forces at play. Noor bent over one of the fallen sorcerers, searching for anything that might give them a clue about the enemy's plans.

"They left little behind," Noor muttered, frustration etched on his face.

Arren nodded, his gaze scanning the ruins. The oppressive energy from earlier was gone, yet something about the situation didn't sit right with him. The ritual, the creature, and the sorcerers—it all felt like a distraction.

"Whatever this was, it wasn't the heart of their operations," Arren said, his voice low.

Before anyone could respond, a faint sound came from the shadows. The squad turned, weapons raised, as a figure emerged. It was Lyara, her dark cloak blending with the night.

"Arren" she said, her tone carrying both amusement and admiration. "You handled yourself better than I expected."

"Lyara," Arren said, lowering his blade slightly but keeping his guard up. "What are you doing here?"

"Who is she arren" her tone was etched and uncertain

"I forgot to introduce her, everyone she is lyara, she was from—"arren was cut off, and Lyara said "We both have the same goal the dark forces" her tone was firm and let arren tell how they encounter each other.

Lyara stepped closer, her expression unreadable. "I came to warn you, but I see you've already been dragged into the web of lies the enemy has spun."

"What lies?" Noor asked, his tone sharp.

Lyara sighed, folding her arms. "The Ashen Order isn't what you think it is. It's nothing more than a front—a facade created to distract you from the real threat""

Arren frowned, his exhaustion giving way to confusion. "A front? Then who are we really fighting?"

Lyara's gaze hardened. "The enemy you seek is far closer than you realize. There's a devil among the imperial council, manipulating events from within the palace at Carthain."

The revelation hit like a hammer. Arren exchanged glances with Noor, Mira, and Brynn, each of them processing the implications.

"You're saying someone in the council is possessed by…a devil?" Mira asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Unfortunately yes," Lyara confirmed. "The creature you fought here,some creatures were already summoned from a different world the rituals, the so-called Ashen Order—all of it is designed to lure you away from the truth. They want you to believe the danger lies in remote forests and abandoned temples while they consolidate their power in plain sight."

Arren's mind raced. He thought back to the emperor's warnings about the Ashen Order, the political tension brewing in the capital, and the strange occurrences surrounding Carthain. It all started to fit together.

"Why tell us this now?" Arren asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Because you need to know the stakes," Lyara replied. "There's more. You'll hear whispers about a place called Ashen Village in Veilwood Forest. Some claim it's the true stronghold of the Ashen Order. It's a lie."

Arren tilted his head. "A lie?"

Lyara nodded. "Ashen Village is real, but it's not what they want you to believe. It's a sanctuary for outcasts—creatures and beings who don't belong anywhere else. It's a peaceful place, nothing like the darkness you've been fighting."

"Then why point us toward it?" Noor asked, his tactical mind already piecing the puzzle together.

"Because they want to lure you there," Lyara explained. "If you attack Ashen Village, you'll lose valuable time and resources. Worse, you'll destroy innocent lives, furthering their agenda."

Arren clenched his fists. The thought of being used as a pawn in such a cruel game made his blood boil. "So what do we do?"

Lyara stepped closer, her piercing gaze locking onto Arren. "You need to tread carefully. Gather proof of the devil's influence within the council. Expose them before they can tighten their grip on the empire. And whatever you do, don't let the enemy manipulate you into making rash decisions."

Brynn, who had been silent until now, crossed her arms. "And how exactly are we supposed to find proof? We can't just walk into the palace and accuse someone of being possessed."

Lyara smirked faintly. "That's where Ashen Village comes in. You won't find enemies there, but you will find answers. The villagers know more about the dark forces than anyone else in the empire. They might be willing to help—if you approach them with respect."

Arren considered her words carefully. The idea of venturing to Ashen Village, a place shrouded in mystery and suspicion, made him uneasy. Yet, if Lyara was right, it could be the key to uncovering the truth.

"We'll go," Arren said finally. "But if this turns out to be another trap—"

"It won't," Lyara interrupted, her voice firm. "I'm risking a lot by telling you this. Don't waste the opportunity."

With that, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving the squad to contemplate their next move.

The journey back to the barracks was tense. Each member of the squad was lost in their own thoughts, the weight of Lyara's revelations heavy on their minds. When they arrived, Arren immediately went to his quarters, the events of the day replaying in his mind.

Fri greeted him with an enthusiastic bark, but even the pup's cheerful presence couldn't lift Arren's spirits. He sank onto his bed, absentmindedly scratching behind Fri's ears.

"A devil in the council," he murmured. "If that's true, the entire empire could be at risk."

Fri tilted his head as if understanding Arren's concern. The dragon egg, still safely tucked away in Arren's magical pouch, seemed to hum faintly, its presence a reminder of the stakes.

The next morning, Arren gathered his squad and shared his decision. "We're going to Ashen Village," he announced. "If what Lyara said is true, we need to learn everything we can. But we'll proceed with caution. This could still be a trap."

Noor nodded, his analytical mind already planning their approach. "If the village is as peaceful as she claims, we'll need to earn their trust before they'll share anything with us."

"And if it's not peaceful?" Torren asked, his tone gruff.

"Then we'll deal with it," Arren replied, his voice resolute.

As they prepared for the journey, Arren couldn't shake the feeling that they were stepping into something far greater than they had anticipated. The road ahead was fraught with danger, but one thing was clear: the truth about the Ashen Order—and the devil lurking within the empire—had to be uncovered, no matter the cost.