The night was silent.
The Kara Army fortress gates opened, and Keal Varnas walked out for the first time as one of their own. His armor was black, his face calm, but inside… a storm still lived.
The General's voice echoed in his mind:
"Show me, Keal. Show me the man who trusts no one."
---
The Target :
A small village near the border.
Rumors said a former Kara spy was hiding there—living quietly, with a wife and child.
Keal's order was simple:
Find him. End him. Leave no weakness.
---
The Encounter :
Keal reached the village by dawn.
He saw farmers working, children playing, women carrying water.
All looked peaceful—too peaceful.
His eyes scanned until they stopped on one man.
The man was chopping wood, but his movements were too sharp, too trained.
Keal knew instantly: That's him.
He walked forward.
The man's wife came outside, smiling warmly.
The little child ran to hug his father's leg.
Keal stood there, silent.
For a second—just one second—he felt something inside him… hesitate.
But then, the words returned:
"People never change. They just play it more carefully next time."
---
The Decision :
Keal stepped closer, his hand resting on his blade.
The man looked at him and froze. He knew.
"Please," the man whispered, "I left the Kara Army. I just want to live in peace with my family. I'll never return to that life."
His wife stepped in front of him, terrified.
"Don't hurt us. He's not that man anymore."
For a moment, the child's wide eyes met Keal's.
Something inside him cracked—memories of his own broken love, the betrayal, the emptiness.
His hand trembled on the hilt.
He could kill them. End the mission. Please the General.
Or… he could walk away.
---
The Cold Flame :
Keal took a deep breath.
His voice was flat, emotionless.
"Run. Far away. Hide where no one will find you. If the General learns I spared you… both of us are finished."
The man looked shocked, his wife clutching his arm.
"Why… why let us go?"
Keal turned his back.
"Because people never change. And neither have I."
He walked away, the rain starting to fall again.
Behind him, the family vanished into the forest, running for their lives.
---
Back at the Fortress
The Kara General looked at him.
"Did you complete the mission?"
Keal's eyes were calm, unreadable.
"Yes."
The General smiled faintly.
"Good. You are one of us now."
But deep inside, Keal knew the truth:
For the first time, he had lied to the Kara Army.
And a small spark of humanity still lived inside the coldest heart.