As they reached the summit of the Wraith Mountains, the air grew skinny and cold. Ahead, the Crimson Citadel loomed like a specter at the horizon, its blood-pink towers piercing the sky. Yuan and Yahuo took withinside the sight, their faces set with determination. They knew the direction ahead might be perilous, however Yuan's current trial had reinforced his resolve. He now felt a deeper experience of cause past private revenge—a experience that his adventure turned into a part of some thing greater.
Descending the mountain's a long way aspect, they entered the territory of folks who had as soon as rebelled in opposition to Azryen's rule. The land bore the scars of beyond battles, with burned villages and desolate fields stretching as a long way as the attention may want to see. This turned into a reminder of the price of resistance withinside the Sinasty Empire, a rate that many had paid with their lives. Yet, remnants of defiance lingered withinside the air, as though the land itself remembered the struggles of folks who had dared to upward push in opposition to oppression.
As they made their manner via a woodland of twisted, gnarled trees, a parent emerged from the shadows, cloaked and hooded. The stranger's face turned into obscured, however the glint of a dagger at their aspect turned into unmistakable. Yuan and Yahuo halted, their arms shifting instinctively to their weapons.
The parent raised a hand in a gesture of peace. "I imply you no harm. I noticed you from the mountain. You're heading towards the Crimson Citadel, aren't you?"
Yuan hesitated, analyzing the stranger. "What if we are?"
The stranger chuckled softly, the sound hole and weary. "Only folks who are searching for dying might willingly visit that cursed place. But in case you're right here to strike in opposition to Azryen... you could locate allies amongst folks who nevertheless deliver the hearthplace of insurrection of their hearts."
Yuan glanced at Yahuo, then returned to the stranger. "Who are you?"
The parent pulled returned their hood, revealing a girl with sharp eyes and a scar throughout her cheek. "My call is Naara. I turned into as soon as a frontrunner withinside the insurrection in opposition to Azryen, earlier than... earlier than he overwhelmed us." Her voice trembled with a aggregate of anger and sorrow. "Most of my comrades are gone, however some people remain, hiding, anticipating a risk to strike returned."
Yahuo stepped ahead, her eyes narrowing. "If you're in reality a part of the insurrection, then why hide? Azryen's grip at the empire is strong, however it's now no longer unbreakable. With sufficient forces, we may want to carry him down."
Naara let loose a sour laugh. "You assume we haven't tried? We fought with the whole thing we had, however Azryen's strength is past some thing we may want to have imagined. He has forces... darkish forces that we are able to't counter with normal weapons." She solid a cautious look on the Sword of a Thousand Faces in Yuan's hand. "But perhaps, with that blade..."
Yuan nodded, sensing the capability alliance forming. "We're amassing forces. If you and your human beings be part of us, we are able to plan a coordinated attack. This isn't pretty much revenge anymore. It's approximately freeing all of us who's suffered below Azryen's rule."
Naara's eyes sparkled with a glimmer of hope, the bitterness softening. "There are others scattered throughout the land, hiding like I am. It won't be smooth to accumulate them, however... in case you in reality intend to venture Azryen, I will assist you. We all will."
They spent the following hours discussing plans, huddling under the thick cover of bushes as they whispered of strategies, antique revolt contacts, and ability hideouts in which they may acquire and train. The street beforehand changed into treacherous, however for the primary time in years, Naara and her comrades felt a spark of hope—a danger to reclaim what that they'd lost.
Before parting, Naara gave Yuan a weathered map, marked with antique revolt camps and deliver caches. "These can be deserted or destroyed, however a few may nevertheless keep supplies. Use them wisely." She positioned a hand on Yuan's shoulder, her voice fierce. "Don't lose sight of what you're combating for. This warfare could be lengthy and bloody, however if we stand together... we would simply have a danger."
With renewed resolve, Yuan and Yahuo watched Naara vanish into the shadows, her parent swallowed with the aid of using the bushes. They pressed onward, their hearts burning with the understanding that they have been now not on my own on this fight. The insurrection had lived on, quietly smoldering like embers, and now, with their help, the ones embers ought to come to be a blaze.