Rain poured down as steel met steel.
Kael locked weapons with the massive warrior, their clash sending sparks into the stormy air. The man was powerful—every swing of his hammer cracked the stone beneath Kael's feet.
"You fight like a king," the warrior snarled. "But kings fall."
Kael twisted, narrowly avoiding a crushing blow, and struck back, cutting across the man's armor.
"I fight like someone who refuses to kneel."
Behind them, chaos filled the fort. Ryn fought through a group of soldiers, blades moving like shadows. Selene's arrows rained down from the tower, dropping enemy after enemy before they could regroup.
Lyra and the others held the inner gate, fear in their eyes—but they did not run.
The hammer warrior charged again.
Kael braced himself.
They collided, both sliding back through the mud. Kael's arms burned, but he pushed forward, driving his sword into a weak point in the man's armor.
The warrior staggered.
"You… you're not just a prince…" he gasped.
Kael stepped closer.
"I am Loyalty."
With one final strike, the warrior fell.
The remaining soldiers faltered.
When they saw their strongest warrior fall, fear spread through their ranks.
"Retreat!" someone shouted.
Within moments, the army that came to crush Kael scattered into the hills.
Silence fell.
Only rain and heavy breathing remained.
Kael dropped to one knee, exhaustion washing over him. Blood dripped from a cut on his arm, but he barely felt it.
Ryn walked up beside him.
"You did it."
Selene joined them, eyes filled with something new.
Respect.
The villagers emerged slowly, staring at the battlefield.
They had survived.
Kael stood, turning toward them.
"This won't be the last," he said. "But today, you proved something."
Lyra stepped forward.
"That we're not weak."
Kael nodded.
"You stood. You fought. And because of that… Loyalty lives."
Far away, in the capital, King Vortigan slammed his fist against the table as the news arrived.
His son had not only survived.
He had won.
The storm was no longer forming.
It had begun.
(To be continued)