A few days passed, and Selene settled into a routine, aiding the medical team. After the incident, she made sure to carefully suppress her true abilities, ensuring no one saw what she was truly capable of.
The bonfire crackled before her, its warmth doing little to ease her restless mind. Being in the medical tent was physically and mentally exhausting, a constant reminder of the war and its staggering toll.
She stared into the flames. "How pointless is this war?" she muttered, the question a bitter taste in her mouth. "The kings who started it are safe on their thrones, far from this chaos. But here, people die. Villages are burned to the ground. Families are ripped apart. And for what?"
"pointless" she repeated..she watch the fire more then her thoughts drifted to Oakhart.
It was the last night before the journey back to Oakhart. She wondered what the kingdom was like, what sights she would see there.But hopefully it would be a contrast of this, where people faces were ashen, tired and weary.
She yawned, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up to her, but sleep was impossible. The images from the medical tent haunted her: the pain she had seen and the constant struggle to suppress the power she held. She looked at her hands, the source of her strange ability, and wondered how it truly worked. Both times she had used her power, it had been on instinct, an involuntary reaction to desperation.
Selene thoughts drifted to the general.
Lyra's absence was a palpable thing, yet the faint, minty scent of her general still clung to Selene's clothes, a lingering reminder of the tent she no longer shared.
"Hey," a voice said, and Selene looked up. It was a female soldier, the one she had used her power to revived.
"My name is Elise," the soldier said with a respectful bow. "Thank you for saving me." There was a knowing look in her eyes, a silent confirmation that she understood what had truly happened.
"No, I... I did what any healer would do," Selene stammered, her heart hammering in her chest.
"I think I was supposed to die. No, I know I died," Elise corrected, her voice solemn. "You did something. I felt it."
She continued, her voice dropping to a whisper, "My grandpa and my brother are relying on me; they're my only family. I won't tell a soul. Your secret is safe with me. Thank you, I owe my life to you." She gave another bow and turned, leaving Selen to blink in stunned silence.
Now, aside from Lyra, someone else knew her secret...
Selene thoughts drifted to the general.
Lyra's absence was a palpable thing, yet the faint, minty scent of her general still clung to Selene's clothes, a lingering reminder of the tent she no longer shared.
She hadn't seen the general all day, having spent her time in the medical tent, carefully tending to the wounded while suppressing her true gift. She stared at her hands, the source of her strange power, wondering what it all meant. What was this ability, and what was her purpose in a world filled with such pain? The unspoken debt of Elise's life now felt like a second, heavier secret she had to carry.
The General's Retreat
This world used to be filled with magic—of mages, witches, and dragons. But centuries ago, a war between the mages broke out, and their numbers dwindled, their magic fading with them. Weakened, they were hunted down by men. The same fate befell the witches and dragons, though it was said one last dragon was still being protected somewhere.
Selene couldn't help but wonder. She stared at her hands—the hands that could heal, but nothing more. Was she a mage? Mages wielded power, while witches needed potions and enchantments. A sigh escaped her lips, a wisp of breath in the cold night air.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a familiar silhouette. It was Lyra, moving with a silent purpose toward the woods.
Driven by a sudden, irresistible curiosity, Selene stood and followed.
She trailed the general into the deeper darkness of the trees. The path was uneven, and she stumbled, losing her balance. A strong, steady hand caught her arm before she fell.
"Hmm, following me?" Lyra's voice was low, but a hint of amusement was in it.
Selene's heart hammered.
"No, I mean... yes. Where are you going?" she stammered.
Lyra let out a soft chuckle. "None of my soldiers noticed I come here..." Amused that Selene was able to notice her "I've been doing it since we camp here.I'm surprised you did."
The General turned and started walking again.
"So where are you going?" Selene asks
"I'm not telling," she teased, "but if you want to know, you can follow me."
Selene watched for a moment,as Lyra continues on her way..Selene then hurried to catch up. They climbed a short, winding path until they emerged into a clearing dominated by a single, immense tree. From its high branches, the entire camp was laid out before them, a tapestry of flickering lights against the deep night. It was a place of quiet, a secret place, and Lyra had just shared it with her.
Lyra climbed onto a thick, sturdy branch and offered her hand to Selene. "Don't worry," she said, her voice a calm reassurance. "I've got you."
Selene hesitated for only a moment. It had been just days since they met, a fleeting moment in the chaos of battle, yet she found herself trusting this woman completely. She took Lyra's hand, its warmth a stark contrast to the cool night air.
They climbed a few more branches, each one higher than the last. Lyra glanced back, a teasing grin on her face.
"A good leader trusts their follower to keep up,"
Selene retorted, a small smile playing on her lips. She didn't feel scared, not with the way Lyra was watching her. She simply added, "I'll follow you, General."
Lyra's smile was soft in the starlight. "Lyra, just Lyra."
They climbed one more before settling side by side, their legs dangling above the ground.
Below, the camp was a patchwork of flickering lights, the murmurs of soldiers a distant hum.
Above, the sky was a blanket of a million stars.
"I found this place by accident," Lyra said, her gaze sweeping over the scene below. "I like to wander around, taking notes on our strategic position, finding the weak points. But sometimes, it's just a break."