Chapter 6: Betrayal in the Night

The abandoned watchtower stood like a silent sentinel against the creeping twilight, its crumbling stones worn by centuries of wind and time. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and lingering embers from their meager fire. Though the group had secured a moment's respite, a subtle unease gnawed at the edges of Kael's thoughts.

The battle with the drake had left them exhausted, their bodies aching from exertion. Brom was tending to his blade, sharpening it with slow, deliberate strokes, while Seraphine murmured incantations over a handful of enchanted stones, restoring their latent energy. Kael, however, found his gaze drawn toward Lira, who sat apart from the others, her fingers idly tracing patterns in the dust.

It wasn't the first time he'd caught her watching them with an expression that was too carefully guarded. Lira had always been a mystery—a rogue who thrived in shadows, her loyalties seemingly dictated by convenience rather than conviction. And yet, she had stood beside them in battle, fought as fiercely as any of them. Had it all been a lie?

The wind howled through the shattered windows, carrying with it the rustling of unseen movement. Kael's grip tightened on the hilt of Eternity, the blade humming in response to his unease. His instincts screamed a warning, but before he could act, the moment of reckoning arrived.

"Kael." Lira's voice was barely above a whisper, yet it cut through the tense silence like a dagger.

He turned to her, meeting her gaze—eyes that were filled not with guilt, but with resignation.

"I'm sorry."

The words had barely left her lips when chaos erupted.

A sudden explosion of movement, the clash of steel, and the unmistakable glint of betrayal. Lira sprang into action, her daggers flashing in the dim firelight as she lunged toward Seraphine. Brom roared, his axe swinging in an arc meant to incapacitate, but Lira was too fast. She twisted away, rolling into the shadows as figures emerged from the darkness beyond the tower's threshold.

Enemies. Dozens of them.

Clad in dark armor adorned with Malgath's sigil, the intruders poured into the ruined chamber like a living shadow, their blades drawn, their faces obscured. Kael barely had time to raise his sword before the first strike came. He parried, the force of the blow rattling up his arm.

"Damn it, Lira!" Seraphine hissed, already summoning a surge of arcane energy between her hands. "You brought them here?!"

Lira's expression wavered for a fraction of a second, a fleeting moment of regret, before she steeled herself. "I did what I had to."

The battle was brutal, a blur of clashing steel and bursts of magic. Brom fought like an enraged bear, cutting down foes with wide, devastating swings. Seraphine unleashed a storm of fire and frost, forcing their attackers back, while Kael moved with deadly precision, Eternity glowing like a beacon in the darkness. But they were outnumbered, and the tide of battle was against them.

Through the chaos, Kael caught glimpses of Lira, her blades striking not at them, but at those wearing Malgath's crest. Her betrayal was not as simple as it seemed. Was she playing both sides? Or was there still something worth saving in her?

But now was not the time for doubts.

A warhorn sounded in the distance, and the enemy began to retreat, disappearing into the night as swiftly as they had come. Lira hesitated, standing at the threshold of the ruined tower, her silhouette illuminated by the moon.

"You'll never understand," she said softly. "Not yet."

Then she was gone.

The silence that followed was deafening. The air was thick with the scent of blood and the weight of unspoken words. Brom cursed under his breath, slamming his axe into the floor in frustration.

Kael took a slow breath, his grip tightening around Eternity. He had trusted Lira, and she had betrayed them. But he couldn't afford to wallow in anger. The mission hadn't changed. If anything, their enemies now knew their strength—and they would be coming for them.

"She made her choice," Seraphine said, brushing soot from her cloak. "We make ours."

Kael nodded. His heart ached, but his resolve hardened. They would not falter. The journey would continue.

No setback, no betrayal, would break them.

And as the night swallowed the remnants of battle, he vowed—Lira's path and his own would cross again.