“Why does anyone attack? The hunger for power, the need for survival,” the Lieutenant flashed an ice-cold smile.
With that, silence fell, devouring us while we continued to press on for what felt like an eternity.
“Let’s take a break,” the Lieutenant suggested, crashing down against a trunk, without waiting for a response. We had been walking for hours, I wondered how much farther away the tower was. Nate dropped his backpack to the ground, rummaging around until he found water and handed it over to Mey.
Ashley sighed, she was already restless, pacing back and forth while stretching. I gave her a glance. “You seem… tense? Sit, rest.”
“I’ll rest after I punch some bad guys,” she shrugged, with a half-smile on her lips.
“Bad history with demons?” Nate chimed in.
“No…” she stopped in her tracks, scratching her head. “It just makes me feel better, knowing I’m doing…something.”
Carolyn hunched down, wrapping her arms around her legs. “I wish I was even half as brave as you.” Her voice was low, but echoed all the same.
“You probably are, only in a different way,” I added.
Carolyn snorted, my words had no effect. In a world where survival was the only thing that mattered, everything else seemed to pale. And yet I hoped, no,dreamedof a time where we could be ourselves without fearing mages, demons or rebellions. I wanted to live my life without anyone asking me where I was from, if I was a mage or not.
But to make such a difference, you had to be someone of importance, a high ranking officer. Once there, people had to listen to you, because at that point you’d already proven your strength.
There was a fine line between being a hero and a tyrant in this place. My eyes snapped towards our leader, his head leaned backwards against the trunk. Was he ignoring us?
He looked peaceful, genuinely relaxed. It pissed me off even more, I hated people like him. They fought to earn a powerful position, and for what? Playing with other people’s lives, not caring who died or how many. Blinded by their power, how untouchable they were. They could commit crimes and atrocities without punishment, because they had the authority to do whatever they thought served the greater good best.
Nate sprawled on the ground, using his backpack as a pillow, voice low but playful. “So… no fire, no food warm enough to feel alive, and nothing to do but whisper to each other in the growing dark. Fantastic opportunity for team bonding. Should we hold hands and sing?”
Ashley perked up instantly. “Ooo, we could make bombs out of the mushrooms around here, I bet they’d make a pretty glow if we—”
Carolyn gasped, panic filling her eyes while fidgeting with her fingers. “Please don’t… no glowing… the demons—”
Mey placed a hand gently on Carolyn’s arm, steady but kind. “She’s joking, don’t worry.” Mey coughed faintly into her sleeve, but brushed it off when Nate gave her a quick look.
The Lieutenant was slowly sharpening his blade, still pretending to ignore the group, but listening to every word.
I noticed and muttered, “What, too good to talk to us?”
He smirked, facing away from us. “Why would I talk to pups, when I can enjoy the silence?”
I immediately bristled. “Stop calling me that.”
“You’re right, youhisstoo much for a pup,” he chuckled teasingly.
The group collectively groaned at the exchange, which only encouraged him, he wanted us to suffer from his painful company.
Nate, ever the peacemaker, grinned. “Look at you two, already bickering without titles and all. Is that what you’re hiding? You’re secretly best friends, aren’t you?”
I threw a pinecone at him.
“I ship it,” Ashley snickered while eating her dried fruit.
“I think they’d rather kill each other,” Carolyn half-whispered, still nervously fidgeting.
Mey’s voice cut through, softer to ease the mood. “Since we can’t risk much noise… Why don’t we go around and say why we joined up? Just a brief note. It might help us feel less like strangers.”
Nate went first, dramatically placing his hand on his chest. “I joined because the world simply needed more of me, obviously. And, since I’m a gentleman, I brought my sister with me.”
Mey rolled her eyes but smiled softly, sending an elbow into his side.
