Lyra stood over the fallen orc, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The axe in her hand was still slick with blood, its polished blade reflecting the moonlight. Elise, having sheathed her sword, kept a watchful eye on their surroundings.
"General, why do you think it's here?" Elise asked, her voice low. "I thought they mostly lived in the mountains or the darkest parts of Thornewood or even in Avalon."
"They do," Lyra replied, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow, her face grim. "This one is too far from any known border to be a patrol. It's unsettling." She gestured toward the orc's armor—a crude collection of metal and leather, but with a sinister look. "Someone is either pushing them out of their old territories, forcing them to find new hunting grounds, or perhaps someone brought it here."
Elise's gaze met the General's. "Do you think it's related to the bandits?"
"An orc is not a bandit, Elise," Lyra said, her voice dropping to a low, cold tone. "It's a weapon. And if someone is using orcs as a weapon, they're not just looking for a simple fight."
Behind them, Selene led the way, a beacon of calm in the chaotic aftermath. Finn, still wide-eyed and shaken, walked beside her, his hand loosely holding her tunic as if for an anchor. His pain was gone, but the memory of the fight was etched on his face. Behind them, Rory followed, his head down and his shoulders hunched. He wasn't just walking; he was actively using Selene as a shield. The shame of his reckless plan and his futile charge against the orc was a heavy cloak he wore, and he couldn't bear to look anyone in the eye.
Rory, his head still down, tried to speak, the word catching in his throat. "I—"
Lyra cut him off, her voice firm and without a hint of malice. "Let's go. We have to see if the others found all the kids."
She didn't look at him, her gaze already fixed on the path ahead. The interruption was a sharp, final dismissal of his attempt to apologize, a brutal reminder that her focus was on the mission, not on his small, foolish mistake. It just added to Rory's guilt, a silent, heavy burden that seemed to grow heavier with every step.
Lyra's party arrived back at the camp, Elise helped Rory and Finn off the horse they had shared. The camp was a blur of activity as soldiers and children mingled. A man in worn armor, who Rory recognized as Shawn, a man who had helped Lyra with the children's training, approached them. His eyes immediately fell on Rory and Finn,Their clothes were torn and smudged with dirt, a clear sign of the brutality they had just faced, yet their faces and arms were miraculously unblemished. Shawn saw the impossible, and his gaze flickered from the children's healed skin to Selene's exhausted but determined face, and he understood instantly.
"General," Shawn said, his voice a low mixture of relief and report. "We found the other kids. With those two… I think it's all of them." He glanced at Selene, a look of quiet respect in his eyes.
Lyra simply nodded, her gaze sweeping over the camp, confirming the children's safety. "Good. Where are they?"
"They're pretty shaken but not life threatening. They're being treated right now."
At the mention of the other children, Selene's breath hitched. She started to dismount the horse, her movements quick and frantic. But Lyra's hand shot out, her grip firm on Selene's shoulder, holding her in place.
""The children's lives aren't in danger," Lyra said, her voice a low, cautious whisper meant only for Selene. "Don't use your ability."
"Okay," Selene said, her voice small, hastily pulling her hand away from Lyra's and stepping back.
Lyra's gaze shifted, her mind already moving to the next problem. She looked at the children, their faces and limbs miraculously healed, but their clothes still torn and smudged with the dirt of the battlefield. It was a stark contrast that would raise questions—questions she couldn't afford to have answered.
"Elise," Lyra said, her voice now back to a sharp, commanding tone. "Bring the kids to the supply tent. Get them clean clothes. We can't have their condition contradict their appearance."
Elise understood immediately. "Yes, General," she replied, and moved to usher the bewildered children away. Lyra's quick, tactical mind was their greatest defense, not just in battle, but in the quiet dangers that followed. Selene watched her, a new understanding dawning on her face. Lyra wasn't just protecting the mission; she was protecting her.