The village lay in ruin, smoke curling into the sky, screams echoing through the hollow streets. Kairo, Ryo, and Ayla arrived too late. Families were fleeing, homes burned to embers, and the marks of the Eclipse Order—the dark sect they had been chasing—were everywhere.
Kairo dropped to his knees, fists clenched. The overwhelming darkness of the Order's magic left him feeling powerless, a weight pressing against his chest.
Ryo gritted his teeth. "We should have been here earlier."
Ayla's eyes narrowed, scanning the destruction. "We can't dwell on what's lost. We have to stop them from hurting anyone else."
Kairo rose, determination replacing despair. "I will not let this happen again. I will grow strong enough to protect everyone."
The group tracked the Eclipse Order deeper into the charred forests. Shadows twisted unnaturally, whispering threats and promises of chaos. Each step tested Kairo's resolve, reminding him of his mortality.
That night, as they camped amidst the ruins, Kairo gazed at the stars, reflecting on his failures and lessons learned from Orin. "I can't save them all… yet. But I will fight until I can," he whispered.
The chapter closed with a vow: Kairo would not remain powerless. The fires of his determination burned brighter than the ashes around him, and a storm of shadows awaited—the next trial of his journey.