Several hours passed before the reinforcements finally arrived.During that time, the camp remained active.
The surviving guards worked in grim silence while digging shallow graves with whatever tools they still had like shovels, broken swords, or bare hands when nothing else was left.
They buried their friends as best they could, one by one.
There was no choice.
They could not carry all the bodies back to the city in their current condition. Some of the dead were torn apart beyond recognition, flesh mangled so badly they barely resembled people anymore.
Those were wrapped in cloaks and lowered into the ground without names.
They chose a stretch of land beside the road, a place caravans often passed. At least there, the dead would not be forgotten entirely.
By the time the last grave was covered, dawn was still far away.
Then hoofbeats cut through the quiet.
Dominic lifted his head as five figures emerged from the darkness.
Arcanists, riding hard toward the camp.
Their horses moved unnaturally fast. Their muscles rippled with strength that did not match their size.
As they drew closer, Dominic frowned.
Carved into the horses' foreheads were faint symbols etched deep into the bone and glowing softly with ether. The marks seem to pulse in rhythm with the animals' breathing.
These were not normal horses.
Kel noticed Dominic staring and spoke quietly as the riders slowed.
"They're marked horses," he explained. "The symbols on their head enhance their speed and endurance."
Dominic glanced at him.
"Who carved them?" he asked.
"Must be one of the stablemasters," Kel replied. "Someone with a Bloodmark power that can engrave power directly into animals."
Dominic's eyes widened slightly.
"Those kinds of Bloodmarks are rare even in the capital," Kel continued. "There aren't many who can do work like that."
Dominic nodded slowly.
There really were many things in the capital he didn't know yet. The thought sent a small spark of excitement through his exhaustion.
The five Arcanists dismounted.
All of them were men. Each wore a cloak marked with the insignia of the Scarlet Council, the same symbol Dominic had seen before in the forest, back when he was still with Felix.
The sigils were clean and polished, worn openly and without hesitation.
An air of arrogance clung to them.
It wasn't spoken. It didn't need to be. The way they stood. The way their eyes passed over the camp, over the fresh graves, and over Kel, Riven, and Mara.
Even though all of them were Arcanists, the difference was clear.
Kel's group were not Council members.
To these men, that made them lesser.
The disdain was subtle. But Dominic felt it clearly.
One of the Council Arcanists stepped forward. He was older than the rest, his hair streaked with gray, his gaze sharp.
"What happened here?" he asked.
Kel stepped up and explained everything about two incidents of the leak from Labyrinth. First was the three monsters that appeared, then the wolves that were corrupted by ether from the. Kel also explained about the casualties.
The Council Arcanist listened without interruption, his expression unreadable.
The others stood behind him in silence, eyes scanning the camp, the caravan people and the remaining guards.
When Kel finished, the man gave a slow nod.
"I see," he said, then let out a sigh.
His eyes shifted briefly toward the graves lining the roadside.
Then back to Kel. The Council Arcanist was silent for a moment longer.
Then he sighed.
"Something strange is happening," he said. "Disasters like this are very rare. Two incidents in such a short span, and at this scale… It's not normal. I'm sure you also think so."
His gaze swept over the camp again.
"My team will take over from here," he continued. "We'll secure the area, investigate the breach, and report directly to the Council."
Kel inclined his head. "Understood."
As the Arcanist turned to give orders to the others, his eyes caught on someone standing slightly behind Kel.
Dominic.
The man frowned faintly.
"And who is this boy?" he asked.
Kel shifted half a step and gestured to Dominic. "This is Dominic. He's one of the caravan passengers. He helped us fend off the wolves. If not for him, there would have been more casualties."
The Arcanist's brow rose.
He studied Dominic openly now, head tilting slightly in mild amusement.
"A boy like you," he said, "fending off corrupted wolves and coming out relatively unscathed?"
Dominic blinked.
For the first time since the reinforcements arrived, a flicker of unease touched him. He could feel the man's gaze pressing down on him, sharp and probing, as if trying to peel him apart layer by layer.
"Yes," Kel said firmly. "This boy has exceptional talent."
The Arcanist hummed softly.
"Is that so…" he murmured, eyes still fixed on Dominic.
For a brief moment, Dominic felt as though those eyes could see straight through him.
Then the pressure eased.
"Well," the Arcanist said at last, straightening. "Good work."
He reached into his cloak and pulled out a small, sealed parchment.
"I'll write you a recommendation letter," he said. "For the Academy."
Dominic's eyes widened.
Before he could respond, the Arcanist had already turned away, moving to rejoin his team and begin issuing orders.
Only when the man's back was turned did Dominic let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Happiness bloomed in his chest.
Not only would he be rewarded by Kel, but now he would also receive a recommendation from an Arcanist of the Scarlet Council!
This really was getting better and better.
Kel glanced at him and allowed himself a faint smile.
"You shouldn't be surprised," he said quietly. "The Council never wastes promising young talent. Someone like you will be useful in the future."
"I see," Dominic replied, keeping his face calm.
Inside, his heart was racing.
He didn't worry about anything anymore right now. The Council Arcanist had come so if any more monsters came, they would take care of them.
Finally, Dominic let himself truly rest easy.
—