Memory. Part: 4

The warm afternoon sun bathed the towering cliffs in hues of gold and amber, casting long shadows across the rugged expanse. A gentle breeze carried the scent of pine and distant rain, rustling through the sparse trees that clung stubbornly to the rocky outcrop. From here, the entire valley stretched before them—rolling hills fading into endless green, rivers carving their way through the landscape like silver veins, and beyond, the distant silhouette of their castle home standing tall against the horizon.

Kael sat near the edge of the cliff, his arms resting over his bent knees, gazing out at the breathtaking expanse before him. There was a quietness to this moment, a rare kind of peace that felt almost unnatural given the life they led.

A few feet away, Zirath lay sprawled on his back, arms folded behind his head as he looked up at the sky, eyes half-lidded in thought. The years had sharpened his features, made his once-boyish arrogance settle into something more refined—though the sharp wit and overconfidence remained ever-present beneath the surface.

"It's strange," Kael murmured, breaking the silence. "To think about where we started… and where we are now."

Zirath let out a short, amused breath, not turning his gaze from the sky. "You're getting sentimental again."

Kael smirked. "Maybe I am."

Zirath finally sat up, shaking his head. "You do this every time we get a moment of quiet. Sit there and think about the past like an old man."

Kael chuckled. "And you pretend not to."

That earned a scoff from Zirath, but there was no real protest. The truth was, they both had their own way of dealing with the weight of the years behind them.

The battles had shaped them. Not just in skill, not just in discipline, but in ways neither of them could truly express. There had been laughter, reckless battles, impossible victories, and painful losses. And somehow, against all odds, they had survived.

Kael exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. "You ever think about how different things could've been? If Eldoria had never fallen… if we never had to fight?"

Zirath was quiet for a moment before answering. "No. Because that's not the world we got." He picked up a small stone and tossed it over the cliff's edge, watching it disappear into the vastness below. "Wasting time thinking about 'what ifs' is useless. We are who we are because of what happened."

Kael glanced at him, noting the hardened resolve in Zirath's expression.

"You don't miss it? The days before everything changed?"

A smirk tugged at Zirath's lips. "I miss not waking up every morning thinking I might die. I miss sleeping in a bed that doesn't feel like a stone slab. But would I trade this? No." He leaned back on his hands, glancing toward Kael. "Besides, if Eldoria hadn't fallen, you wouldn't be the warrior you are now. You'd probably still be some brat with a wooden sword, getting his ass kicked in training."

Kael laughed at that. "And you'd still be the arrogant prick who thought he was the strongest in the world."

Zirath shrugged. "Still am."

They both chuckled, but beneath the teasing was a quiet truth—they had grown. The days of being reckless, stubborn boys were behind them. They were warriors now, soldiers who had carved their place in the world through blood and hardship.

And yet, some part of them still clung to those fleeting moments of youth.

________________________________________

The sound of hooves against stone broke their momentary silence. Both of them turned toward the approaching rider.

Seraphina.

She rode with effortless grace, her long crimson red hair tied back, her posture as composed as ever. She had changed too—no longer just the bright-eyed girl who used to scold them for their reckless stunts. She had become a pillar of strength, a soldier just as much as they were, if not more.

Pulling her horse to a stop, she dismounted with practiced ease and strode toward them, her expression unreadable but knowing.

"Let me guess," she said, crossing her arms. "You two were brooding again."

Zirath smirked. "He started it."

Kael rolled his eyes. "We were just talking."

Seraphina sighed, shaking her head in amusement. "Well, you can do all the talking you want later. The commander wants to see us."

Instantly, the air shifted.

The playful mood between them faded, replaced by a quiet understanding. If the commander was calling for them specifically, it meant something important—something serious.

Kael met her gaze. "Did he say what it was about?"

She hesitated, then shook her head. "Not much, but… it's important. We need to go."

Zirath stood, stretching his arms with an exaggerated groan. "Well, guess that's the end of our heartfelt conversation. Tragic."

Kael stood as well, giving him a light shove. "Come on."

Seraphina watched them with that familiar expression of fond exasperation, as if she was dealing with two idiots who never quite grew up.

Together, they made their way back down the winding path, the castle looming in the distance, waiting for them.

The moon hung high as Kael, Zirath, and Seraphina rode back toward the castle. The journey through the mountain pass had been swift, but a quiet tension clung to them like an unseen weight. None of them spoke much along the way, their minds tangled in thoughts about the sudden summons.

The castle loomed in the distance, its stone walls bathed in silver light, the towering spires standing like ancient sentinels. It was the last stronghold of Eldoria, a fortress that had withstood countless battles, yet with every passing year, its defenses grew weaker—just like the kingdom it once protected.

As they passed through the gates, the few guards standing watch barely acknowledged them. They knew better than to ask questions when the Commander himself had called for secrecy.

Kael dismounted, handing the reins to a stable boy who had rushed forward without a word. The boy's eyes darted between them, curiosity barely contained, but he knew his place and quickly retreated into the shadows.

The three of them walked side by side toward the castle's inner keep, where the Commander awaited. Their footsteps echoed against the cold stone floors as they moved through the silent corridors.

Each of them carried an unspoken tension.

Zirath, for once, wasn't making sarcastic remarks. His usually smug expression had been replaced with something unreadable—a rare sight.

Seraphina's shoulders were squared, her stride purposeful, but Kael could see the flicker of calculated caution in her eyes.

As for himself… he felt the weight of something unknown yet inevitable pressing against his chest.

This wasn't a simple matter. He could feel it.

________________________________________

Two guards stood outside the heavy oak doors leading into the Commander's room. At their approach, the guards nodded, stepping aside without question.

Kael pushed the doors open.

Inside, the room was dimly lit, the only sources of light coming from the lanterns lining the walls and the large fireplace at the far end. The air smelled of parchment, leather, and faint traces of old iron—a reminder of war, of battle plans drawn over countless nights.

At the center of the room, the Commander sat behind a grand wooden table, his expression unreadable.

Behind him, standing near the wall, were four Eldorian soldiers—veterans, their presence silent but imposing. Their eyes held the weight of experience, men who had fought, lost, and survived.

The door closed behind them with a soft thud, sealing them inside.

The silence stretched for a moment before the Commander finally spoke.

"There is a mission," he said, his voice steady.

Kael remained still, his gaze fixed on the Commander.

Zirath, standing beside him, crossed his arms. "You summoned us in secrecy. That means it's not a typical operation."

Seraphina simply nodded, ever the sharp observer. "What is it?"

The Commander leaned forward slightly, his eyes dark with unspoken weight.

"There exists a pendant, one of immense power. It is said to hold the ability to command forces beyond our understanding. If it were to fall into the wrong hands…" He exhaled. "It would mean the end of Eldoria."

A slow tension filled the room.

Kael's fingers curled slightly at his side. A pendant with power to change the fate of a kingdom…?

"We have little information about it," the Commander admitted. "Its true nature is shrouded in history, lost to time. We don't even know where it is. But what we do know is this—" His gaze sharpened. "It must never be found by the enemy."

Zirath scoffed. "So we're protecting something we don't even have?"

The Commander ignored the remark. "The pendant's power cannot be accessed without six relics. Six ancient stones, scattered across the land."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"And you know where one of them is," Seraphina guessed.

The Commander gave a slow nod. "The Embervein Shard."

A silence settled over them, heavier than before.

Kael had heard that name before. Somewhere in the records of old legends, in the whispers of wandering scholars.

"The Embervein Shard currently lies in Mergalon," the Commander continued, his voice laced with caution.

Zirath exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Of course it does."

Seraphina frowned. "Mergalon is a cursed ruin. A wasteland. It's crawling with things not meant to exist."

Kael remained silent, his mind already turning over the implications.

"And we're not the only ones looking for it," the Commander added. "Nyxthara's General, Valgon, is heading there as well."

A cold chill ran through the room.

Kael's fists clenched. Valgon.

One of Nyxthara's greatest enforcers. A man known for his brutality, his unwavering loyalty to darkness.

"We have no information about Valgon's true intentions," the Commander admitted. "But what we do know is that he is moving. And he will stop at nothing to claim the relic."

Seraphina's voice was quiet, but firm. "So our mission is to secure it before he does."

The Commander nodded. "This is a mission that cannot fail."

A heavy silence followed.

Kael exhaled through his nose, absorbing everything.

They didn't have a choice. This wasn't just a mission. It was a battle for the kingdom's survival.

"Why us?" he asked.

The Commander's gaze met his.

"Because you're the strongest we have," he said. "And if you fail, we lose everything."

The words hit like a blade.

Zirath ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. "So, just us three?"

The Commander nodded. "This must remain a secret. If word spreads, it will reach Nyxthara's forces. You leave at dawn."

Kael glanced at Seraphina, who gave him a single, steady nod.

Zirath groaned but rolled his shoulders. "Guess we don't have much of a choice, do we?"

The Commander didn't answer.

They already knew the answer.

________________________________________

Leaving the chamber, Kael felt the weight of the mission settle onto his shoulders.

The corridors felt colder, quieter.

Seraphina walked beside him, silent but lost in thought. Zirath lagged a few steps behind, his usual bravado missing.

None of them spoke.