Chapter 14

Silence settled over the square as if a vacuum had suddenly formed. The dark-clad figures all stared at me as I effortlessly jumped onto the battle platform. The general's gaze finally scanned my face, and for a moment, he seemed to smile—or perhaps it was just a strange glimmer of recognition in his eyes.

David and Dave stood at the edge of the crowd, while Chloe and Emily watched my every move in tense silence. In the center of the combat area stood a muscular man, taller and broader than me. His hands rested loosely at his sides, but his posture radiated experience. The challenge burned in his eyes, and as he sized me up, a faint, dismissive smirk appeared on his lips.

"A new little girl in the ring?" he growled in a deep voice. "You don't look like a fighter."

"Sometimes the most dangerous one is the one who doesn't look like it," I replied calmly.

The general stepped forward and raised his hand. The crowd fell silent.

"The new contender will take her place. She didn't sign up, and her name isn't on the list, but if she accepts the fight, so be it," he declared. "If you win, you'll have the right to move along the border as a squad leader and taste both the privileges and burdens of leadership for a full week. If you lose… well, then you'll just be one of many."

The man across from me stretched out, then, with a single motion, took his battle stance. His muscles tensed, and the air around us suddenly grew heavier. There was no time to think—the fight had begun.

His attack was so fast I barely saw it coming. A left hook whistled toward me, but at the last second, I stepped aside, letting his momentum carry him forward. My foot landed firmly on the ground, and with a sudden backward step, I dodged his second strike as well. The man grunted.

"Quick," he acknowledged. "But how long can you keep it up?"

I didn't answer. This fight wasn't about words. My breathing remained steady as I watched his movements, the tiny signals that revealed his next strike. And then, I moved.

A swift sidestep brought me to his left, and I drove my elbow into his ribs with precise force. I felt the impact resonate through his bones. He flinched but didn't retreat. A counterattack followed—a knee strike that barely missed my stomach.

The crowd held its breath in unison. Everyone was watching. Tension lined Chloe's face, while David and Dave silently observed, waiting to see how much longer I could hold out.

The fight continued. The dark-clad figures around the ring began to whisper. Someone murmured that they hadn't expected me to last the first five minutes. The general crossed his arms, watching my movements with interest.

Then came the moment.

My opponent launched another attack, but I was faster—I dodged with a low spin and delivered a powerful kick to the back of his knee. He staggered. I didn't have much time—one swift motion, and I forced him to the ground, pressing my knee against his chest.

For a brief second, the crowd was silent, then a murmur rippled through the square. The general slowly nodded.

"Winner: Avarka," he announced. "You're a squad leader now."

The world seemed to expand all at once. Chloe and Emily rushed toward me in a single movement, while David and Dave clapped with wide grins on their faces. The man on the ground was still breathing heavily, but when he looked up at me, a faint smile flickered across his lips.

"Not bad," he muttered.

The general stepped closer.

"I hope you know what you've just signed up for," he said quietly.

I simply nodded.

Silence reigned in the courtyard as I stepped forward. I scanned the people.

"Who volunteered for border defense?" I asked loudly. As hands rose into the air, I nodded firmly.

"We meet here tomorrow morning at five o'clock," I said. "From here, we head to the border."

No more words were needed. Everyone knew what awaited us. Chloe and Emily cast one last hopeful glance at me before disappearing behind the door.

As I turned, I suddenly felt the general's presence. I didn't see or hear him, yet I knew he was there. His breath brushed against my neck, closer than he had ever been before.

"You're coming with me now," he said quietly but firmly.

He led me to the upper level of the base. It was only then that I noticed he had a room there as well. It wasn't ostentatious, but it carried the authority befitting his rank. The furnishings were minimalistic, functional, yet carefully arranged. I sat on the bed, and he took a seat on the chair—another place, another time, months later… yet the atmosphere remained the same as before. The silence was palpable.

Still, before it could become suffocating, he finally broke it.

"Already thinking about saving the world?" he asked softly, his voice carrying an almost warning edge.

Of all the questions I had expected, this wasn't one of them.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say. My thoughts searched for the right answer, but in the end, I simply asked,

"What do you mean?"

The general leaned back in his chair, his gaze piercing through me.

"Your first and only day at the border wasn't exactly a pleasant experience," he said coldly. "I made sure you wouldn't have to go back there. And now, you're running straight toward it."

I said nothing, just watched him.

"You won't become a good fighter by charging headfirst into a glass wall," he continued.

I tried not to react. Maybe he thought I wasn't suited for this. I remained silent, but his words carved into me.

"If the spirits attack you again, I won't be there to protect you," he went on. "A piece of concrete won't be enough against them. Luck has been on your side so far, but the day will come when it won't be. Don't tempt fate."

Something inside me tensed. I was tired of constantly being lectured.

I almost said it. I almost let the protest burst out of me. But in the end, I held myself back.

"I understand," I said coldly. "Thank you for the advice. May I leave now?"

The general's eyes flashed.

"No," he replied. "You won't leave until you truly understand."

I clenched my jaw.

"And what exactly do you mean by that?" I asked, my voice growing more intense.

He didn't answer. But I had something to say, so I stood up.

The words slipped from my lips with difficulty as the air between us grew heavy.

"I fought for where I am now. I fought to be a team leader for a week, knowing exactly what I was signing up for. Please, stop lecturing me. Constantly."

"This isn't a lecture."

He spoke in a calm voice—so calm that I couldn't place it. But inside me, fury raged because I felt like it was, in fact, a lecture. Yet his words wove around me like invisible threads, crafting another layer of reality. And as he spoke, his voice trembled the air around me.

"You look tired. Mentally exhausted."

His words stirred something in me—not just my ears heard them, but something deeper. And yet, I turned my head away, not wanting to see his gaze.

"Why do I interfere with your decision? Simple. It seems like something else is driving you even now. Like you're still… running from something. Since you arrived here, you've been resisting. Trying to piece things together, trying to understand them. Looking for the right path instead of the wrong one, but not even you know which is which. Tell me, isn't it exhausting—constantly resisting, constantly searching? Believe me, sometimes it's better just to follow the rules, not to ask unnecessary questions, not to fight."

This was no longer about the situation. He was digging into me. Into my life. That angered me all over again.

"Let me decide that!" I snapped and quickly stepped to the window.

I didn't want to look him in the eye, didn't want to look anywhere, because I knew that if I did—if I let myself sink into his gaze even for a moment—I would lose control. I would explode in a way I didn't want to. I feared the consequences.

My fingers clutched the edge of the window as if the world beyond the glass could offer me refuge. Outside, the moon's light faintly glowed, illuminating the field of daffodils swaying gently in the night breeze.

I felt him step closer, his presence wrapping around me as if some invisible force held me captive. He was just a breath away, his closeness radiating a warmth that burned more dangerously than anger.

"You can rest here."

His words were a whisper, wrapping around me like a long-forgotten melody. Something deeply buried within me ignited—or maybe it had never truly been extinguished. It didn't come from him, but he brought it to the surface, and I accepted it without a word. Emotions surged through me that I had long thought lost—or perhaps had never really belonged to me in this life.

I had trained and fought to become a full-fledged dark-clad soldier, and now it frustrated me beyond measure that instead of simply following orders and defending the good side, I was diving headfirst into the forbidden unknown.

Perhaps he was right. Even if I wouldn't admit it to myself.

And yet, suddenly… it felt good. This peace felt good.

The calmness he radiated surprised me. It spread so swiftly, covered me so suddenly that I didn't know what to make of it. Perhaps I had never felt anything like it before, or if I had, I had long forgotten. Slowly, I turned around.

There was barely any space between us—he was so close, pressed against me, and it only heightened my desire.

He placed a hand on my chest, and with that touch, every thought in my mind dissipated. The air grew heavier, my heartbeat turned erratic. Outside, the wind howled eerily, as if trying to warn me of something.

He shouldn't be this close. I shouldn't be letting him affect me like this.

But his scent… his scent wouldn't let me think clearly. It wasn't exotic, it wasn't overwhelming, yet it surrounded me, intoxicated me, and suddenly, everything else felt insignificant.

Our gazes locked deeply.

General, apprentice, or soldier—those roles no longer existed.

I leaned into him.

He kissed me.

As our tongues met, the kiss became a dance I had longed for without even realizing it. His coldness, his icy walls melted away, and suddenly, he wasn't the man I had known before. Not the strong, distant soul, but someone who, for the first time, truly let me in.

It was inexplicable how quickly, how suddenly, this quiet peace flowed from him. As if ice had melted into warmth, as if the night carried the light of the day. I didn't understand the shift, but I didn't want to. I just wanted to feel.

I had imagined many things about this night. But never that it would end like this.

In this moment, full awareness and ignorance didn't matter. The future and the past didn't matter.

Only the present.

And the realization of how incredible it felt to touch someone I had never dared to.

His kiss was like the meeting of hopelessness and hope.

A world unfolded—a world where even ice could bring warmth.

As his lips touched mine, something ancient, something otherworldly coursed through my entire being.

Like a true guardian angel.

He, who had always watched my steps—even from the cold shadows—had, for the first time, finally warmed the space around me.

The kiss broke off suddenly, as if an invisible blade had severed the moment from reality. I pulled away, almost gasping, and before he could say anything, I stepped back and sat down on the edge of the bed. The movement was more abrupt than necessary; the mattress sank beneath me, and the moonlight cut the room in half at an angle. On one side, a warm, muted glow; on the other, cool shadows. My shoulders tensed, as if every muscle in my body protested against surrendering to this feeling.

The general didn't move immediately. For a long, silent moment, he simply watched me, his expression unreadable—yet it felt as though he could see right through me. My heartbeat thundered in my chest, but outwardly, perhaps only my unsteady breathing betrayed my turmoil.

Slowly, deliberately, he sat down beside me, just enough that his shoulder brushed against mine. The touch was light, barely perceptible, yet something deep, inexplicable tension hummed between us.

"You're overthinking again. Sometimes, you just have to let things happen," he finally said softly. His voice was deep and measured, but there was something else in it… something steady, unwavering.

I forced a small smile, but it was hesitant, melancholic. My hands clenched into fists in my lap, as if I could hold back the chaotic web of my thoughts that way.

"And what if I don't want it to happen?" I whispered, and even I wasn't sure if I was telling the truth.

The general turned toward me then. His gaze was weighty, honest, piercing through me.

"Then say it," he replied simply.

The air between us thickened, time stretched. My lips parted, as if to speak, but the words wouldn't come. I couldn't say it.

His hand moved slowly, cautiously, brushing against mine. The gesture was so delicate, so fleeting, it felt almost dreamlike. And I… I didn't pull away.

"You won't say it," he whispered.

I shivered. Deep down, I knew he was right.

Silence settled between us, and the world seemed to shrink back within the walls.

Gradually, I let myself sink into the mattress, surrendering to the exhaustion weighing down my body. He moved too, mirroring my motion, until we both lay among the pillows.

The general remained beside me, keeping a small distance, not forcing anything. He didn't speak, didn't ask questions. He was simply there.

And for now, that was enough.

The night stretched on, time slipping away quietly. And in that unspoken truce, in the quiet presence of one another, we found something—if only for a fleeting moment.

My eyes suddenly snapped open. The room was immersed in dim twilight, the oppressive silence of the night still lingering in the air. I looked around—the general was no longer there. For a moment, I sat motionless, then swiftly got up and headed toward the bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face, letting the sharp chill bring me to my senses. A deep breath, a second of focus. In the mirror, a determined gaze stared back at me. I smiled involuntarily.

By the time I stepped out, the others were already waiting. There were twenty of us. Chloé and the rest stood in a line, excitement and tension blending on their faces. I stepped among them, glanced over the group for a moment, then made a single, decisive motion to signal the start.

"Good morning, everyone!" My voice rang clear in the air.

Just as I had been taught, I went through the inspection.

There was no time for empty words, so I got straight to the point.

"Gear check. Clothing, knife, small knife, smoke bombs…" I scanned them, my gaze settling on a few special weapons. "You have the German weapons too, right? The ones that…" I didn't need to finish. They knew. The weapons capable of destroying spirits.

A chorus of affirmations followed. I heard some of them double-checking their belts, fingers running along the blades, securing straps, feeling the weight of their weapons. I had nothing on me now, but I knew everything was ready in the cars. I would take what I needed there.

I fastened my small earpiece and immediately heard the disciplined, unwavering voice on the other end.

"This is the lieutenant speaking. You're clear to go. Good luck, leader!"

I smiled at the title. I didn't know how long this moment would last—this state where everyone looked to me, where I was the one leading them—maybe a week, but as long as it lasted, I intended to enjoy it.

Chloé raised an eyebrow as she stepped beside me.

"And where exactly did you sleep last night?"

I hesitated for a moment, then replied quietly,

"I'd rather not answer that if I don't have to."

Chloé understood. She didn't ask again.

The cars slowly set off. We sat in the first vehicle, leading the convoy. The road was silent.

When we reached the border, Dave slowed down. The landscape had barely changed since the last time I was here. Ruined buildings loomed over the rocky terrain, and thick fog clung to the ground. A familiar feeling crept over me—that strange, nostalgic shiver that always hit me in this place.

"Let's stop for a moment," I told Dave.

We halted. The wind gently stirred the fog. I looked down into the depths. But this time, we were really going down.

As we moved forward, the building gradually emerged from the mist. It was as ruined as I remembered, and yet… there was a kind of order to it. A peculiar system that still made it seem somewhat inhabitable.

We stepped into the great hall. The place where the lieutenant always stood before was now empty—so I took his place. I glanced over the others for a moment, then mentally ran through the plan once more. I had gone over it a thousand times in my mind, but now I spoke it aloud.

"We split into four teams."

I quickly pointed to the people, selecting them.

"You, and you—there." We didn't know each other's names, we identified each other by numbers, so I formed the groups accordingly.

"Team One goes to the field. Be careful," I added quietly. "I didn't have a pleasant experience there."

"Team Two to the ruins."

"Team Three to the cliffs."

"Team Four…" I looked at Chloé. "You're with me."

"If anything goes wrong, contact me through the radio," I told them. "I'll be here. And if necessary, don't hesitate to use the smoke bombs or the special weapons. We meet back here in eight hours."

Before setting off, we did one final equipment check. I took the weapons I had prepared, and finally, the five of us headed downward.

The silence that followed was thick and heavy. We descended the cliff together. The others moved soundlessly, their every motion disciplined. Yet the tension pulsed between us, as if everyone could feel the weight of what was coming.

David, however, was different. He leaped between the rocks effortlessly, as if he had no worries at all.

"And why exactly are you in such a good mood?" Chloé asked.

David grinned.

"Why should I be miserable? If we're going to die, I want to be happy before it happens."

Chloé pressed her lips together tensely.

"This isn't funny," she muttered.

She didn't look well. I stepped beside her and gently touched her shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she replied softly. "Just… nervous."

I nodded with a faint smile.

"Me too. But we'll handle it together."

She nodded as well, though there was still a hint of worry in her eyes. But she didn't say anything more—we just kept moving downward, getting closer to whatever awaited us below.

We reached the foot of the hill. The dense fog was clearly visible from here, as was its origin. We stopped before it—it felt like a boundary, as if an invisible wall protected one place from the other. But it wasn't the kind of fog that was impossible to see through. The other side was clearly outlined, yet something about it was unsettling.

"What exactly are we supposed to do now?" David's voice carried a hint of impatience.

I took out my crystal and looked at the others.

"No one moves until I say so. I don't want anyone to get hurt."

I placed the crystal on my palm, then extended my hand. I hesitated for a moment before pushing it slightly into the fog. The cold touch sent a shiver through me, but I waited.

Nothing happened.

"That's it?" David repeated.

Just then, the radio crackled again.

"You have to go in, girl. Into the fog, with the crystal," Michael's voice came through. "The crystal is an angelic source—it will protect you."

My stomach tightened with sudden anxiety. I closed my palm around the crystal, took a deep breath, and gestured for the others to wait a moment before stepping aside.

"What are you talking about? This wasn't part of the plan! And where did you even get this radio—where's the lieutenant?"

Michael's voice remained steady, but I could sense the tension behind his words.

"That doesn't matter! I didn't know exactly how this crystal would work for communicating with this particular soul until now. But now I'm certain. You have to go into the fog with the crystal. It's the only way to find him. He can't come out on his own."

I hesitated.

"You know how much is at stake. Please."

That please carried everything in it. I tried to suppress my frustration and focus on what was truly at risk. A deep sigh escaped me.

"Fine," I muttered, switching off the radio before turning back to the others.

"I have to go into the fog to get him."

Chloe immediately moved.

"I'm coming with you."

"No!" I started to argue, but before I could continue, a thin voice called out from the other side of the fog.

"Are you looking for me?"

Chloe's head snapped up, and before I could react, she grabbed the crystal from my hand and ran straight into the fog without a word.

I cast a quick glance at the others before dashing after her.

"No one follows us. Stay here."

Then, without another thought, I plunged into the fog, chasing after the girl.

As I stepped into the fog, I immediately tried to grab Chloe's hand so I wouldn't lose sight of her. I barely caught it when she quickly turned around and simply said:

– I'm sorry.

But in the depths of her eyes, something lurked that made my blood run cold. An emotion beyond mere fear. Attachment, pain—something she might have never put into words. Before I could speak to tell her it was okay, Zach's voice cut through the fog:

– Come on! It's not safe here, we have to go further in!

We followed the boy—or rather, his faint, translucent version. Chloe tried to grasp his hand, but her fingers slipped right through him, as if he were made of smoke. Eventually, we reached the top of a small hill where the fog was less dense. Zach stopped, let out a deep sigh, and spoke:

– I'm sorry for this… external presence of mine. But I don't have enough energy to fully regain my physical form.

Silence settled around us. My heart pounded in my chest.

– What happened to you? – I asked, the words struggling to leave my throat.

Chloe and Zach exchanged glances. I could see they needed a moment. Maybe they couldn't touch each other, but at least they could talk.

– Just keep quiet, we mustn't draw attention!

I stepped back, giving them space while I stared into the distance.

This wasn't how I imagined the world of spirits. I thought souls drifted aimlessly, with no order among them. But here, everything pulsed with energy. In the distance, faint and stronger figures moved in a strange harmony. The whole place felt like another plane of existence, one with its own rules. Some spirits floated as translucent lights, while others flickered in darker shades, fragmented and incomplete. Some were faceless, while others stood out with eerie clarity. A world whose laws we did not know. A world where souls existed differently.

I glanced at my watch. Two minutes were up. We couldn't stay any longer.

I stepped back to them and asked again:

– Who did this to you? Do you remember anything?

Zach closed his eyes, as if piecing things together was difficult.

– My last memory… We were patrolling the field near the border. Then a sudden flash… And another image… I was lying on a cold stone floor. Maybe marble… I don't know. And someone held a black box in front of me. Then… everything vanished. It was as if I had been thrown out of my own body. I saw myself from the outside… But the one who got up and kept moving—it wasn't me anymore.

My stomach clenched.

– So… that box – I began slowly – separated your soul from that other soul. It threw you out of your body, and he moved in, now living your life in your place?

The anger inside me tightened like a vice.

– Most likely, yes – Zach nodded bitterly.

– And tell me… did you see who was holding that box?

– A woman… I think – he answered.

I clenched my jaw.

– Black hair?

– Maybe. I can't give a clear description.

Rage flared up inside me.

– That damn bitch! – I burst out.

Chloe grabbed my shoulder, alarmed.

– Didn't you just say we shouldn't draw attention to ourselves? I don't think this is the best way to do that…

I took a deep breath to calm myself.

– You're right. Sorry – I muttered. – But we have to go. We can't stay here any longer.

Chloe seized my arm.

– Wait! Are we seriously just going to leave him here?

I looked into her eyes.

– What did you think, Chloe? That we'd find him another body, rent it, and carry him out? I know this is horrible… But we are soldiers. Our primary mission is to get out of here without any risks. We'll come up with something—rationally.

I could see she was angry, that the weight of my words hurt her, but I didn't back down. I had to make this decision.

Zach sighed and then spoke softly:

– He's right. But please… let us talk for one more minute.

I nodded. I waited as they said their goodbyes. Then we headed out.

The fog thickened around us. As we neared the exit, a strange, oppressive feeling settled in my lungs. I looked at Chloe and saw that she felt it too.

– No… – she whispered. – They noticed us.

Slowly, I turned back. Shadows moved in the depths of the fog. Taking form. Spirits—ones that didn't look like Zach. They were wilder. Hungrier.

It happened in an instant. Something attacked us. Or rather, some things. They blocked our way. Chloe was already reaching for her weapon when I grabbed the crystal, shoved it into her hand, and with all my strength, I hurled her out of the fog. She fell through the spirits and landed safely outside.

I, on the other hand, drew my weapon, hungry for energy, and with a firm stance, I waited for my unwanted company to make their move. I didn't have to wait long…