Chapter 17

Tre veilwood forest had always been silent, but tonight, it was suffocating. The squad moved cautiously, their breath misting in the cold night air as they approached ashen village.

Arren's fingers twitched against the hilt of his sword. Something felt wrong.

The village wasn't a battlefield, nor was it the dark stronghold the the empire warned about. It was... untouched. Too untouched.

Noor frowned. "I don't like this. It's too quiet."

Torrent grunted in agreement, his grip tightening on his axe. Mira scanned the area, her healer's intuition sensing something off, Even Brynn, normally confident, reached for an arrow without a word.

Arren's gut twisted. Was this really a trap? Had Lyara led them into an ambush?

Then the first scream tore through the night.

Not from an enemy—from the village itself.

Arren's head snapped toward the sound. A woman ran through the streets, terror in her eyes. Behind her, a column of fire erupted from the center of the village, turning the night sky blood red.

Then the imperial banners rose.

Arren's breath hitched an ache to his chest, The empire's army was already here.

Swords clashed, The screams of villagers—beastkin, elves, even humans—echoed through the streets as armored knights stormed the homes, cutting down those who resist.

The imperial forces were here to burn Ashen Village to ground.

Arren's blood turned to ice. They had been sent here under false orders.

"This isn't a battlefield," Noor hissed, gripping Arren's arm. "This is a slaughter against unprovoked beings."

Brynn loosed an arrow, striking an imperial knight before he could kill a defenseless child. The squad was frozen in place caught between their duty and the truth.

Mira gasped. "What do we do?"

Arren didn't answer, He was already running, boots pounded on the ground.

Then a sight in heart of the chaos was a single imperial general, his armor bathed in firelight.

Sir Thalric Valen

Arren's mentor. The man who raised him. Stood at the center of this massacre.

Arren stormed forward, fury burning through his veins.

"What the hell is this" sounded with lump on his throat.

Thalric turned, his shard glistening eyes locking onto Arren with something dangerous.

"This is justice."

"Justice... this" gesturing the homes on fire" look around you, this is not—they aren't summoning anything that may destroy this land."

Thalric smirked.

"No, Arren." He took a step forward. " You're the one who will make them believe it."

Arren froze.

Before he could react, a knight fell to his knees before him, shouting:

"The burning Wolf is here! The knight of fire himself has come to purge the heretics!"

The soldiers cheered.

Arren felt his stomach drop. No. No, no, no.

They were using him, Using his name, his power his legend to justify this slaughter.

Thalric leaned in, his voice low " Your fire Arren. Your name. The people trust you, And now, they will see you as the empire's champion."

The world tilted. They had planned this.

Arre wasn't here to stop this,

If he fought back, he wouldn't just be fighting the empire, He would be fighting hi own men.

He clenched his fists, but then—he turned just in time to see Lyara standing at the end of the chaos.But something was wrong.

Blood gushed from her lips. Her dark cloak was stained on blood, and the air of once-confidence wavered. A blade was buried deep in her side. Arren ran towards her side.

Gasping cause of lack of breath, grip his arm. And utters "They—" she coughed a lump of blood, her trembling. "They planned this from the start. You were never meant to see the truth."

Arren's shook as he tried to stop the bleeding, but Lyara grabbed his wrist. Lyara's hand was fading like dust in thin air.

"Listen to me." Her violet eyes burded with urgency. "Find the one who walks between worlds. He knows the truth. He—he's been through this before. You have to—" Her grip was flared

Arren's mind was foggy and blurry.

Then Thalrics voice cut through the moment. And shout to cease who left still breath.

The Imperial knights rushed. But Arren flares control the rapid fire everywhere, storms of fire surrounded them and ceases.

(Next Chapter— A messenger from god)