Shadows of the Past

Evelyn's heart pounded as she stared into the darkness where the masked warrior had vanished. The echoes of battle were fading now, the last of the enemy forces retreating into the depths of the forest. Her soldiers had won this skirmish, but victory felt hollow.

Kael approached, his face streaked with sweat and dirt. "Are you all right?"

She nodded, though her grip on her sword remained tight. "They knew exactly how to lure us in. That wasn't just a random ambush. This was planned."

Lysara sheathed her daggers, stepping closer. "That warrior… they weren't fighting to kill you outright. They were testing you."

Evelyn's stomach tightened. She had felt it too. The way the warrior fought—it was too precise, too calculated. Someone was studying her, learning her movements. And that voice… there was something disturbingly familiar about it.

"We need to regroup and move before they have a chance to strike again," Kael said. "Our men are tending to the wounded, but we can't stay here."

Evelyn exhaled sharply, pushing aside the unease crawling up her spine. "You're right. We set up camp a few miles from here. Double the guards. I want everyone on high alert."

As her soldiers moved to carry out her orders, Evelyn lingered for a moment, gazing into the trees. The masked warrior was still out there, watching, waiting.

And she had a feeling this was just the beginning of something far more dangerous than she had imagined.