Kael lay in the grove's infirmary, vines pulsing softly around his limbs. The mana sickness had stabilized, but not reversed. His veins were almost completely black, branching like dead rivers beneath his skin. His fingers were numb. A cane rested beside him, untouched.
The healers had said he was lucky.
But Kael didn't feel lucky.
He stared at the canopy above, where the leaves shimmered with grace. They pulsed gently, like they were breathing.
I should've died in the Deadlands.
He thought of Squad Six. Their faces blurred by time, screams etched into memory. He remembered their funeral, the blood, he imagined the horror on their face in their final moments before. He remembered being the only one.
I was the last. And now I can't even return to them.
He tried to flex his fingers. Nothing.
I can't fight. Can't cast. Can't protect anyone. What good am I to them now?
He turned his head, saw Aylin sleeping nearby, curled in beastform, tail twitching.
She still has something to fight for.
He didn't. Not anymore.
---
Aylin woke slowly, eyes adjusting to the dim light. She looked at Kael. She felt his stillness, his silence.
She knew he wouldn't leave.
She didn't speak.
She just sat beside him, her tail curling around his leg.
"I'm staying too," she said softly.
"I won't lose my people again. They seem to know me here. I could maybe find out where my parents are."
Kael didn't argue.
"This is my only chance to have a shot at something real. Beyond those damn walls."
He just nodded.
"Then I'll stay too. At the very least I can give you some support. Be a friendly face."
She looked at him, her eyes flickering with something between guilt and resolve.
"You don't have to."
Kael smiled faintly.
"I do. My squad's gone. My blade's done. But you're still here. That's enough for me."
---
Mugen sat alone near the grove's edge, shadows curling around his boots. He felt different. Not stronger. Just less human.
His breath was shallow. His instincts sharper.
He hadn't told anyone about what he's been experiencing.
Not yet.
"They wouldn't understand."
He looked down at his hands.
They didn't shake anymore.
He remembered the Hydra. The way it had fled. The way his mana had shifted. Not entirely his own at that moment.
It was something else. Something older.
---
Zafira met Mugen at the edge of the grove.
No words, once again. Just a nod.
She led him to the clearing again, this time the roots twisted into a ring, vines pulsing faintly. The air was thick with chi, though Mugen still couldn't name it.
She stepped into the ring.
Gestured towards Mugen. Mugen followed.
Then she attacked.
Fast. Precise. Brutal.
Mugen blocked the first strike, barely. Her movements were fluid, silent, devastating. He tried to cast a spell. His shadows flickered, then collapsed.
She struck again.
A kick to the ribs. A sweep to the legs.
"No magic," she whispered.
Mugen gritted his teeth.
He fought back. He wasn't used to fighting in this manner.
"So this is what it feels like to be Tamura. I think I like this way much more than magic."
Mugen was growing more excited with each blow they exchanged. He was becoming more like his younger brother.
But what he didn't realize is that this was the opposite of what he needed to be doing.
---
The battle was vicious.
Zafira moved like wind. Mugen moved like storm.
He took hits. Dodged others. Adapted.
His body remembered things his mind didn't.
Breath control. Footwork. Pressure points.
She struck his shoulder, he rolled, swept her legs, missed.
She flipped, landed, elbowed his jaw.
He staggered.
Then he stopped thinking.
And started feeling.
Her aura pulsed.
His responded.
Not with mana.
It was now a battle of mind versus willpower.
She paused.
Smiled.
"You're learning. For a second I thought you might actually die here."
He smiled back. "I've got someone who needs to know he can count on me when he can't hold out anymore. To do that... I have to be stronger."
The Grove didn't respond.
---
They sat in the clearing, breath ragged.
Zafira finally spoke.
"I've noticed with every strike, your mind ventures somewhere else. It's called chi. You've been sensing chi. You just didn't know the name."
Mugen blinked.
"Chi?"
She nodded.
"It's not like mana. It's life itself. Flow. Intention." She looked at him. "Chi is completely out of this world. Even if you're up against the strongest mages in your kingdom, knowing even a small amount of how Chi works will make you seem like a god in their eyes."
She explained the culture of her people and how chi was discovered between her people, through movement, through pain.
"Chi saved my people many times over during our time under your royalty." She was actually expressing something beyond the same neutral facial expression she's been holding. She was smiling. She loved talking about her culture and seemed in clear amazement of chi and its properties. And then, it faded.
"I know why you all are here. I'm telling you now that you won't get what you want. We lost many under that Devil Queen. My parents. My mentors. My friends."
She looked directly at Mugen and for the first time... she had raised her voice.
"Urdek will never sign with Vel'Thira again. That much I promise you."
Mugen listened.
"Why me? Why did you choose me to teach about this stuff?"
She looked at him.
"Because you didn't break. You adapted. And you didn't ask for power. You earned it the right way. And like I said before, your soul. Your Chi. It called to me for help. You're different from the others."
---
Tamura and Vayrik stood before Urdek in the heart of the grove. Behind were two Dryads. Ancient spirits and solemn protectors of the Grove.
"This is ridiculous. We've honored your trials," Vayrik said.
"We've shown respect."
Urdek didn't flinch.
"Respect doesn't erase history."
Tamura stepped forward.
"Even if we come on her orders... we're not her. We're not Vel'Thira."
Urdek's eyes narrowed.
"But you carry her brand."
Vayrik's voice sharpened.
"We came for peace."
"Then leave in silence."
---
Scene 8: The Failed Treaty
The room was tense.
Tamura's mark flared.
Vayrik's aura shimmered.
Urdek stood firm.
"My people bled for your Queen. We buried children beneath these trees. We won't do it again. And the only reason we are not at war is because it is not in my people's best interest to war with your country who clearly outnumbers us by thousands."
Tamura clenched his fists.
"Then you doom them to isolation. What happens if you're approached by a nation with less grace than us?"
Urdek turned away.
"Then at least their intentions were pure from the start. Better to fight isolated than seeking protection from your former slaver."
The negotiation failed.
"Make this your people's last night." Urdek looked at Vayrik before walking away.
---
The squad gathered one last time.
Aylin and Kael sat together, quiet.
Tamura paced.
Mugen was absent. He was still training.
Tamura turned to his former squad mates.
"You're staying?"
Aylin nodded.
"I have to. My people... my heritage is here."
"Then visit them on a holiday or something."
Kael stepped in.
"She's right Tamura. We're done."
He turned to Kael. "So you're staying too?"
Tamura's voice cracked as he looked back at Aylin.
"We grew up together. We survived together."
Aylin looked away.
"And now it's time for us to heal the wounds of the path and move on."
Tamura began to shout. "Like hell we're moving on! You two can't just abandon the mission. After what Vayrik did for us? After what I did for you?"
Now Aylin was getting upset. "Are you serious? You think I want to leave the guild? My family? I don't. But this is my chance to find peace and maybe even have a family of my own. One that has my blood. Speaks my language. Don't you want that for me?"
The argument escalated more.
Tamura shouted even louder.
Kael defended.
Aylin fell silent. Tears were starting to flood her eyes.
Vayrik stepped in.
"Enough."
They froze.
"Tamura. Go to bed."
Tamura didn't move.
"Now."
He stormed off.
Vayrik turned to the others.
"You're free. I won't stop you. And don't worry about Tamura, he'll come around."
Kael nodded. "What about the nation? I'm sure we'll be considered deserters."
Vayrik smiled. "Let me worry about that you two."
Aylin cried.
"I'm sorry Vayrik. I'm sorry for leaving you guys."
"It's all good. I do agree with Tamura on one thing though. You both are family. And we will all miss you two."
Vayrik turned away to head to sleep. "Good night to the both you. It has been an honor to watch you two grow into the amazing warriors you've become."
He looked at Kael one more time. "Don't give up on yourself just yet."
---
Early dawn fell on the remainder of the team.
Tamura, Mugen, and Vayrik stood at the edge of Druira.
Mugen looked around.
"Where are the others?"
Tamura didn't answer. Vayrik did.
"They're not coming Mugen."
Tamura's mark flared. Not crimson, but it was a shade of red.
His jaw clenched.
They walked away from the Grove in silence.
Squad 2 was no more.
Just Tamura and Mugen.
Brothers against the world once more.
---