Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: The cruelty of darkness

** ** The morning next to the retirement of guardian refuge was too quiet. The sun was filtered through the heavy clouds, illuminating the path that the trio was headed north. Kael, Elara and Brom marched in silence, each absorbing the last moments of calm before the imminent danger. Brom hummed a rustic melody, Brom, Elara checked the ropes of his bow, and Kael touched the sword lightly in his holster, the metal resounding with a metallic sound. "It's strange," said Elara, breaking the silence. "The forest is quieter than yesterday. It seems ... empty." Brom stopped and looked around his sharp look. "You're right, girl. There are usually birds, the sound of the wind on the leaves. Today ... Nothing." Kael felt a cold in the spine. The forest of whispers rarely was totally silent. It was a bad omen. "They're coming," Kael murmured, looking at the horizon where a cloud of dust rose. Before the others could react, the distant sound of drums and war cries echoed through the forest. Nox soldiers, dressed in black armor and nailed from sinister runes, emerged from among the trees, surrounding a small village halfling. "No!" Caiden shouted, who had gone out to hunt with some companions. He ran toward the village, but was intercepted by an NOX wizard, whose robes flamed with dark energy. "Traitors!" He shouted the magician, his voice distorted by magic. "Neutral do not exist! You should choose one side or pay the price!" The attack was fulminant. Poisoned arrows fell on the wooden huts, burning them. Magos released spells that petrified trees and threw giant stones on the houses. The Halflings, peaceful and unprepared, tried to flee, but were massacred without mercy. Kael saw Caiden knocked over a spell, his body immobilized in a black ice block. "No!" Kael shouted, running toward the carnage. His sword was ready, but he knew it was a few Against Many. Elara grabbed her arm, pulling him back. "Kael! We can not! If we die here, who will destroy the talisman?" Brom lifted his two-hand ax, red eyes of rage. "We need to do something! They're killing innocent!" Kael looked around. The village was on fire. Mutilated bodies lay everywhere. Women and children cried, seeking shelter. Nox's magician laughed, levitating in the air. "You are 下 一 个!" He shouted, pointing to the group. Kael felt Rorik's spirit inside him, echoing angry and sadness. * "Save them, Kael. His mission is not only to destroy the talisman. It is to save what remains of good." * With a cry of fury, Kael advanced, ignoring the danger. Elara snapped arrows accurately, hitting the eyes of several soldiers. Brom turned his ax, knocking opponents with brute force. But they were many. The magician threw a dark energy beam toward Kael. "Kael, be careful!" He shouted Elara. Kael turned away, but the energy passed by, burning his skin. He felt the anger and pain mingling, a wild desire to kill all those responsible. "Let's go!" He shouted Elara, pulling Kael back. "We can not save everyone!" Brom agreed, knocking over a soldier. "We need to survive to continue!" Kael looked back, seeing caiden still immobilized on the ice, eyes fixed on him with an expression of regret. He saw the children crying, the women begging. He saw the future that could be, if the talisman was destroyed. But he also saw reality: they were three against an army. They died here, the talisman would never be destroyed. With a cry of interior agony, Kael retreated, following Elara and Brom. They ran through the forest, Nox's soldiers chasing them, throwing arrows and flipping spells. "Why did they do that?" He cried a halfling child, hidden behind a bush. Kael stopped, looking at her. His eyes were filled with fear and confusion. He felt the weight of his choice. Helping now would certainly mean death. Prioritizing the mission meant to leave innocent die. "Come on," said Kael, his firm but broken voice. "But I will not forget that." They continued to run, the sound of the war drums echoing behind them, a steady reminder of the cruelty that ruled the phantom archipelago. The forest of whispers tested not only his determination, but also his humanity. And Kael knew the next choice he could change.