Chapter 59: Aftermath

Chapter 59: Aftermath

Silvia's POV

The battlefield still smoldered, the scent of burnt metal and scorched earth thick in the air. The resistance had won the fight, but Silvia knew better than to let herself feel victorious. This wasn't over. Titan never stopped.

She forced herself to stand, her muscles aching from the fight. Around her, Garrik and the others worked to regroup, gathering supplies and tending to the wounded. Dragon stood nearby, arms crossed, his golden eyes scanning the horizon.

"They'll come again," Dragon muttered, his voice edged with exhaustion.

Silvia wiped the sweat from her brow. "I know. But not today. We bought ourselves time. We need to use it."

Tarren walked up, her face set in a deep frown. "We lost good fighters today. And this outpost won't hold against another wave."

Silvia turned, looking at the crumbling structure they had fought so hard to defend. "Then we don't stay here. We take the fight to them."

Garrik let out a dry chuckle. "I like the sound of that."

Dragon glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "You're not going to stop, are you?"

She met his gaze. "Not until Titan falls."

He smirked. "Good. Because neither am I."

Assessing the Cost

Silvia moved through the ruins of the battlefield, stepping carefully over bodies—some Titan, some their own. The victory felt hollow knowing how many had fallen. She knelt beside a fallen resistance fighter, closing his unseeing eyes. Each loss was a weight on her shoulders, a reminder of the price they were paying.

Garrik stood beside her, silent. "We should burn the bodies before Titan sends scavengers. We can't leave our dead for them to desecrate."

Silvia nodded. "We give them a warrior's farewell. And then we move."

Dragon and Tarren organized the remaining soldiers, gathering the wounded. They had medics, but supplies were running low. Silvia clenched her fists. They needed more resources. More people. More everything.

She walked past the injured, kneeling by a young soldier barely out of his teens. He looked up at her, pain in his eyes but determination still there. "Commander... did we win?"

Silvia forced a reassuring smile. "Yes. And we'll keep winning. Rest now."

A groan from Garrik interrupted the solemn moment. "Well, that's one battle down. What's next? Should we start picking out a vacation spot?"

Dragon snorted. "Sure, Garrik. Let's book a trip to the nearest Titan-controlled city and see how long we last."

Tarren, adjusting her rifle, chimed in, "Make sure it has a nice view. You know, for when we're running for our lives."

Silvia let out a tired laugh, shaking her head. Even in the darkest moments, they still found a way to keep going.

A Moment of Reflection

As the sun set over the ruins, Silvia took a rare moment of solitude. She sat on a broken section of wall, her gaze on the distant horizon where Titan's forces would undoubtedly regroup. It never stopped. The war never ended.

Dragon found her there, his presence warm even before he spoke. "You're thinking too much again."

She exhaled, glancing at him. "How do you not? We win one battle, and another is right behind it. I don't know if we can keep this up."

Dragon settled beside her, close enough that their arms nearly touched. "You've already done the impossible. You survived Titan's strongest forces. You built something from nothing. If anyone can keep this up, it's you."

Silvia looked at him, the sincerity in his voice cutting through her exhaustion. "And if I can't?"

Dragon's smirk softened. "Then I'll carry you."

She arched a brow. "You're just trying to be charming, aren't you?"

He leaned in slightly, the smirk widening. "Is it working?"

Silvia rolled her eyes. "Maybe."

Before he could respond, a scout approached at a run.

"Commander! We found something!"

Silvia straightened. "What is it?"

The scout led them to a hidden Titan storage cache, buried beneath rubble. When Silvia pried it open, her breath caught. Weapons. Medical supplies. Rations. Enough to keep them moving for weeks.

Garrik let out a low whistle. "Looks like we just got lucky."

Dragon grinned. "Or maybe Titan is just that dumb."

Silvia grinned, adrenaline surging again. "Or maybe Titan just made its biggest mistake."

The Next Move

With new supplies in hand, Silvia wasted no time. If they had resources, they had power. And if they had power, they could strike.

She gathered her commanders in what remained of the war room. "We have two choices—hold here and wait for Titan to hit us again, or take the fight to them."

Tarren snorted. "You already know which one we're choosing."

Silvia smirked. "Then let's not waste time."

She pointed to a key location on the map—a Titan command center, lightly defended now that they had drawn forces away.

Dragon nodded. "We take that, and we cut off their communications in this region. We turn them blind."

Garrik grinned. "Then let's make some noise."

Preparing for War

The next day was spent in feverish preparation. The resistance fighters readied weapons, gathered intelligence, and plotted their assault.

Silvia moved through the camp, stopping to speak with soldiers, ensuring they were ready. She wasn't just their leader—she was one of them.

Dragon watched her from a distance, arms crossed. "You never stop, do you?"

She turned to him, raising a brow. "Neither do you."

He chuckled, stepping closer. "Fair point. But you should rest. You're no good to anyone dead on your feet."

Silvia hesitated, then nodded. For once, she'd listen.

A Night of Uncertainty

Silvia lay in her tent, staring at the fabric above her. Even in exhaustion, sleep didn't come easy. The weight of every decision, every life lost, settled heavily on her shoulders.

She turned slightly, sensing a presence just outside. Dragon. He never said it, but she knew he stayed close, standing guard while she slept. He always did.

"You should rest too," she called softly.

A low chuckle. "I'll sleep when the war is over."

Silvia sighed. "That's not happening anytime soon."

There was a pause before he spoke again, his voice quieter. "Then I guess I'll be standing here a while."

She rolled her eyes, then smirked. "I didn't know you were so dedicated to babysitting."

Dragon's voice was full of mock offense. "Babysitting? Please. I'm just making sure you don't trip over your own feet in your sleep."

Silvia chuckled softly. "Good to know you're here for all the right reasons."

The teasing was light, but the warmth between them was real. As she closed her eyes, she knew that no matter what came next, she wouldn't face it alone.