Chapter 76: Remnants Rising

Chapter 76: Remnants Rising

Silvia's POV

The air was crisp as Silvia stood atop the outer wall, the wind carrying the distant sounds of the city coming to life below. She had barely slept, her mind churning over the information Elara had delivered. The Remnants weren't just a scattered group of rebels clinging to Titan's failed ideology—they were something new, something dangerous.

A knock on the wooden support beam behind her made her turn. Dragon leaned lazily against the post, arms crossed, his golden eyes scanning her face. "You've been up all night, haven't you?"

She smirked slightly. "You sound surprised."

He sighed. "Not surprised. Just disappointed that you didn't let me keep you company."

Silvia rolled her eyes but didn't push him away when he came to stand beside her. The two of them watched the horizon in silence for a moment before she spoke. "This isn't over, is it? I thought we were done fighting wars."

Dragon exhaled through his nose, his expression darkening. "Wars don't end just because we win a battle. There's always someone looking to fill the void. We just have to make sure they don't succeed."

She nodded, pushing away the exhaustion clawing at her mind. "Then we act."

The Council's Response

The council chamber was tense. Garrik stood with his arms crossed, Tarren leaned over the map sprawled across the central table, and Elara sat stiffly, hands clasped in her lap.

Silvia took her seat at the head of the table. "We don't have time to waste. We need scouts in the field immediately. We have to know exactly where the Remnants are and what they're planning."

Garrik grunted. "And if they're as dangerous as Elara claims, we need to strike before they become an actual army."

Elara shook her head. "You don't understand. They're not just warriors. They have people everywhere. Saboteurs, spies. Even some of Titan's old commanders have joined them."

Tarren sighed, rubbing her temples. "So we're not dealing with a single faction—we're dealing with a network."

Dragon smirked. "Oh, great. More people who want to kill us. Just what we needed."

Silvia ignored his sarcasm and turned to Tarren. "Then we need to be smarter than them. Send out scouts, but also send misinformation. Let them think we don't know they exist. If they believe we're not preparing for them, they'll get overconfident."

Tarren nodded. "I'll have my best people on it."

Garrik hesitated before speaking. "We need to think about the people inside the city. If they have spies here, we need counterintelligence measures in place."

Silvia clenched her fists. "We will not let them use fear to control us. We will protect our people, but we will not turn our home into a prison."

A Clash on the Horizon

Hours later, a scout rushed into the chamber, face pale and hands shaking. "We were ambushed. The Remnants knew we were coming. We lost two of our men, and they took one hostage."

Silvia's heart clenched. "Who?"

"Joran. They took Joran. They said it was a message for you. That you'll see him again soon."

A cold fury settled in Silvia's chest. She turned to her council. "We are out of time. They've made their move first. Now we strike."

Garrik slammed a fist on the table. "I'll gather a strike team. We can hit their outpost at nightfall."

Silvia took a deep breath. "No. We do this my way. We'll take the time to plan. No rash decisions. We can't afford mistakes."

Dragon smirked. "So what's the plan, commander?"

Silvia's eyes burned with determination. "We send a message of our own."

Dragon's POV

Later that night, Dragon found Silvia once again on the wall, staring out at the darkness. This time, he didn't bother asking if she had slept—he knew the answer.

He stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You know, for someone who hates war, you sure do a lot of planning for one."

Silvia huffed a quiet laugh. "Because I don't have a choice."

Dragon tilted his head, watching her carefully. "You always have a choice, Silvia. That's what makes you different. You don't fight for power. You fight for people. That's why they follow you."

She looked up at him, the weight in her chest easing slightly. "Then I just have to make sure I don't fail them."

Dragon smirked. "Not possible. Not while I'm around."

Silvia shook her head with a small smile before turning her gaze back toward the horizon. The battle hadn't started yet, but she could feel it brewing. And this time, she wouldn't be caught off guard.

The First Strike

At dawn, Silvia stood with Tarren and Garrik near the outer walls, watching a unit of scouts prepare to leave. The tension in the air was thick—this mission wasn't just reconnaissance anymore. It was the first real step in determining how dangerous the Remnants truly were.

"Make sure the scouts stay hidden," Silvia instructed. "We need information, not casualties. If they see an opportunity to retrieve Joran, they take it. But no heroics."

Tarren nodded, adjusting her rifle strap. "We'll be careful. But if they come after us first, we won't hesitate."

Garrik grumbled. "They'll make a move soon, you can count on it."

Silvia turned to Dragon. "Are you coming?"

Dragon smirked. "And miss the chance to see you outmaneuver another army? Not a chance."

She rolled her eyes but felt a flicker of relief that he'd be with her. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—this wasn't a war they could ignore.

As the scouting team vanished into the trees, Silvia took one last look at the rising sun. This time, she wouldn't let the darkness win.