36. Kael

36

KAEL

T he clang of steel and the guttural cries of enemies surround me, but my focus narrows to a single point: Laia. My grip tightens on my axe, the handle slick with sweat and blood. The battlefield is a chaotic blur, the air thick with the scent of ash and death. Yet, through it all, my eyes remain fixed on her.

Laia moves with grace and precision, drawing her bowstring taut and releasing arrow after arrow. Each shot finds its mark in the chest of a dark elf, her face set in fierce determination. She’s become a warrior, but she’s still vulnerable. Every instinct in me screams to protect her.

A dark elf lunges at me from the side. I pivot, my axe cleaving through his torso with a satisfying crunch. But even as he falls, my gaze snaps back to Laia. She’s surrounded by three more elves, their blades gleaming menacingly.

“Laia!” I roar, surging toward her. Adrenaline rushes through my body as I swing my axe, taking down one of her attackers. She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t hesitate—her next arrow is already nocked and aimed at another foe.

Thalos’s voice cuts through the din of battle, sharp and commanding. “Kael! Don’t leave her side. We’ll finish this faster if you stay with her.”

I nod, though he can’t see it amidst the chaos. “Understood!”

Another dark elf charges at Laia from behind. My blood runs cold. I leap forward, swinging my axe in a wide arc that catches the elf mid-stride. He crumples to the ground, his blade clattering uselessly beside him.

Laia turns, eyes wide, for just a moment before she nods in silent thanks. Her trust in me sends a surge of resolve through my veins.

We move together now—she fires arrows with deadly accuracy while I guard her flank, cutting down anyone who dares get too close. The battlefield may be chaotic, but our bond is unbreakable.

With each swing of my axe and each arrow she looses, we carve a path through our enemies. The fight rages on around us, but in this moment, we are unstoppable.

I will protect her with everything I have.

The battlefield swirls with chaos, but I keep my focus sharp. My heart pounds as I swing my axe, splitting my attention between cutting down enemies and guarding Laia’s flank. A dark elf lunges at her, his blade aimed for her side. I step in front of her, deflecting the sword strike with a grunt before driving my axe into the attacker’s chest. Blood sprays across my arms, but I barely notice.

Laia’s breath catches behind me, but she doesn’t falter. She nocks another arrow, her eyes scanning the battlefield with deadly intent. “Kael!” she calls, her voice taut with adrenaline. “Behind you!”

I pivot just in time, bringing my axe up to meet the blade of another dark elf who tried to flank me. The force of our clash reverberates up my arms, but I grit my teeth and push back. With a powerful swing, I cleave through his torso, sending him crumpling to the ground.

Grinning at Laia, exhilaration courses through my veins. “Good shot!” I shout over the din of battle. My chest swells with pride as I watch her take down enemy after enemy with terrifying precision. Each arrow she looses finds its mark, each movement calculated and deadly.

We move in unison now—a seamless dance of steel and arrows. My axe swings in wide arcs, cutting down any who dare approach while Laia’s arrows fly past me, striking true every time. The battlefield may be a chaotic blur, but together, we carve a path through our foes.

With every enemy that falls, our bond strengthens. The fight rages on around us, but here and now, we are an unstoppable force.

She’s quick, darting from cover to cover, and I’m always there, a shield at her back, my axe a brutal force that cuts through our enemies like a scythe.

The battlefield is a storm of chaos, but amidst the blood and fury we find a rhythm. Laia’s arrows whiz past me, each one finding its mark with unerring precision. I swing my axe in wide arcs, cleaving through dark elves who dare approach her. Our movements are seamless and instinctive—two parts of a whole.

Between breaths and swings, Laia glances at me, a wild smile on her lips. “I might be going crazy,” she yells over the battle’s roar, “but I think you three are even hotter when you’re savage like this.”

Her words send a thrill through me, and despite the chaos around us, I chuckle. My blood pounds in my ears, the exhilaration of the fight surging through my veins. “Is that so?” I tease back, swinging my axe and sending another dark elf crumpling to the ground. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Laia’s laugh is bright and fierce, cutting through the din of battle like a blade. Her confidence fuels my own, and together we push forward, cutting down anyone who stands in our way.

Laia grins back at me, her face flushed with the thrill of the fight. "And... I kind of like the feel of their blood on my skin,” she adds, her voice almost breathless. “It’s… exhilarating.”

My chest tightens with pride—not just for her skill, but for the raw courage she’s showing. She’s no longer the frightened girl from when we first met. She’s a warrior, fighting alongside me. I can see the transformation in her eyes—the fire that wasn’t there before. It’s a fire that matches my own.

An hour later, the battlefield is silent except for the crackling of flames as we set the dark elf camp ablaze. The bodies of our enemies litter the ground, a grim testament to our victory. The air is thick with smoke and the pungent scent of burning flesh. But amidst this carnage, there’s a strange sense of peace—a quiet that speaks of survival.

I glance at Laia, her chest heaving as she wipes dark elf blood from her cheek. Her hair is matted with sweat and grime, and her clothes are torn and stained. Yet she stands tall, unbroken, a fierce determination still burning in her eyes.

As we walk through the smoldering wreckage of the camp, I feel a surge of satisfaction wash over me. We fought together. We survived together.

Thalos strides ahead, his shoulders squared and his expression one of grim satisfaction. Irix limps slightly but wears a triumphant grin despite his injuries. Laia stays close to me, her presence a comforting reminder of what we’ve accomplished.

“We did it,” she whispers, almost to herself.

I nod, feeling the weight of our victory settle around us like a mantle. “Yes, we did.”

Together.

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