Flames roared across the battlefield.

  The ground was cracked and burning. Smoke filled the air like a dying sky.

  Kael stood in the middle of the inferno, sword in hand, fire spiraling around him.

  Across from him stood a man with cold silver eyes.

  Thalrion.

  “You are done now, Thalrion,” Kael said, tightening his grip.

  “This is the end for you.”

  He dashed forward.

  Their blades collided.

  The impact sent a shockwave through the flames.

  Thalrion’s expression didn’t change.

  In one swift motion, he twisted his blade and blocked Kael’s strike. Then—

  A punch.

  Brutal.

  Kael felt the air explode out of his lungs as he was thrown backward.

  Before he could recover—

  A silver flash.

  Silence.

  His head separated from his body.

  The fire vanished.

  Everything vanished.

  Darkness.

  Complete darkness.

  Kael stood alone in a void.

  Whispers surrounded him.

  “Thalrion… the Tide Who Judges will kill us…”

  “Don’t say that. He’ll hear you.”

  “I don’t care anymore…”

  “He is merciless…”

  The voices repeated.

  Again.

  And again.

  And again.

  Kael covered his ears.

  “Stop…”

  The whispers grew louder.

  He began walking forward through the darkness, unsure where he was going.

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  The voices echoed behind him.

  Judgment.

  Fear.

  Despair.

  Then—

  “KAEL!”

  The darkness shattered.

  “KAEL, WHY DON’T YOU WAKE UP?! IT’S MORNING!”

  Kael’s eyes snapped open.

  He was in a tent.

  Sunlight leaked through the cloth walls.

  Standing over him was Aelira Moonvane, hands on her hips, clearly irritated.

  “You sleep like you’re dead,” she muttered.

  Kael sat up slowly, touching his neck instinctively.

  It was intact.

  A dream.

  “Everyone is waiting outside,” Aelira said.

  “Yeah… I’ll be there in a minute,” Kael replied quietly.

  Outside the tent, the jungle air felt heavy but alive.

  The camp of the Aqualis Revolutionary Group was already awake.

  Wooden structures stood between massive trees. Guards were positioned on high branches. Banners marked with a wave-like symbol hung between trunks.

  As Kael stepped forward—

  Cheers erupted.

  “Congratulations, Kael!”

  “Five years already!”

  “You’ve changed everything!”

  He blinked in confusion.

  Five years.

  Five years since he joined them.

  Elric stepped forward, older and composed.

  “Five years ago, we were starving fugitives hiding from patrols.”

  Aelira crossed her arms with a proud smirk.

  “Now we control three jungle supply routes.”

  Caelum added quietly,

  “And the royal caravans avoid this region entirely.”

  Murmurs of agreement spread.

  The group had grown.

  More tents.

  More weapons.

  More trained fighters.

  And at the center of that growth—

  Kael.

  A boy around fifteen ran toward him, slightly out of breath.

  Lior.

  He held something carefully in both hands.

  “This is all I can give you right now, big brother…”

  He revealed a bracelet made of small jungle flowers, carefully woven together.

  Kael looked at it for a moment before gently taking it.

  “Thanks, Lior.”

  The boy smiled brightly.

  Around them, the celebration continued.

  Food was passed around.

  People laughed.

  But Kael’s eyes drifted beyond the camp.

  Beyond the trees.

  Toward the distant direction of Aqualis.

  Five years.

  They had grown stronger.

  They had taken control of supply routes.

  They had made the kingdom cautious.

  But it wasn’t enough.

  Not yet.

  Not until Thalrion fell.

  The dream still echoed in his mind.

  The Tide Who Judges…