Chapter 21.Camyre:The baker rounded off his tent, apologising to the villagers as Llerona requested his assistance. We walked a mile after and arrived at his house.I couldn’t help but notice the change in the village—children barely played outside, subtle quarrels and tension among the villagers, and a heavy air that weighed down everything.“If it’s only been a few days, how come they look so…..”I didn’t know the right words to use, but Rodryce answered at once, “Famine, in a land where even the smallest number matters, is disastrous. It’s not merely about hunger—it stirs up the selfish greed of men, the urge to save what’s yours and hoard even more,” he explained.We were just about to step into the baker’s hut when Llerona’s general, Halrix, stopped us with a chuckle. “You’re prisoners, or do you need reminding?” The guards kept us waiting outside the hut.I couldn’t shake the urge to know what was truly going on inside—what they were discussing, and what had really happened to

CHAPTER 23Camyre: The energy stirred gently about my arm as I lowered myself to one knee, pressing my hands into the muddied earth. I let the magic course through me, down into the soil. In the blink of an eye, the plants began to bloom, sprouting back to life with verdant force. There came a few gasps and murmurs of awe behind me, perhaps even a shout of praise or two, but I paid them no mind. My focus remained on the flow of magic.I could scarcely believe I was managing such a feat. The energy continued to spread, restoring life to all it touched. Yet with every inch it covered, I felt myself grow weaker—my limbs heavy, my vision hazy. Fatigue pulled at my muscles, and my breaths grew shallow.Still, I pressed on a little longer, until at last I was forced to pause. The village chiefs burst into applause, their smiles wide and gleaming with gratitude as they beheld their fields reborn. “I’m happy to be of service,” I murmured, my smile firm despite the weight dragging at my bones

CHAPTER 25Llerona's POV.I woke the others up as I stared at the monster that currently had its hands sticking into Camyre's chest. They prepared for battle, but we needed to be careful, or else we may end up losing the prisoner.“Flank me; there's more out there. I can feel it.” I sensed the magic coursing in the air; it was terrifying. “We won't be able to fight them all off,” I whispered to my second in command, Halrix.Halrix drew his sword. “We run?”“Yes.” That was the only real chance we had of getting out alive.As for Camyre, they looked as though they were in some sort of trance, completely motionless with a blank, almost lifeless expression. It was dark, so I couldn’t make much out, but that much was clear.I turned to Rodryce, who had come to as well. “Well? Are you going to save your partner or just stand there?” I asked, irritation prickling in my tone.I’d never really seen Sir Rodryce as a good man — but that was a personal judgement.He didn’t respond. Just stood the

CHAPTER 27Llerona's POV.I walked around the village square and enquired about the whereabouts of my second in command and the others, if they made it to the village alive and if anyone had spotted them in the crowd.It wasn't hard to spot the house Valcereon; the distinct sigil of the soaring eagle on their capes and breastplates stood out like a sore thumb.However, the villagers that I questioned all shook their heads disappointedly. That was until I went to the garrison, and luckily they had spotted at least three of my soldiers.“They had entered the city, and we had housed them at one of our inns. They had so much hope that Milady would show up,” the captain responded.The captain of the garrison, Finch Drevyn, was familiar with House Valcereon, and I was not surprised that he had offered them help. However, it did irk me in the manner in which he addressed me, but I pushed it to the back of my mind.“Just three of them?” I enquired, although our number has dwindled s