Chapter 5: part 1 Whispers of the Pursued

Setting: The village healer’s hut, late at night. The young woman, bloodied and bruised, wakes up as Kael questions her about the danger pursuing her.

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Scene 1: The Healer's Hut

The room was dimly lit by a single lantern hanging from the ceiling. The faint scent of herbs filled the air as Mirel hovered over the young woman, dabbing a wet cloth against her forehead. Kael stood by the door, arms crossed, his eyes sharp and watchful.

The woman stirred, her breathing ragged. Her green eyes opened slowly, filled with fear and exhaustion. She jolted upright, wincing in pain as Kael stepped forward.

“Relax,” Kael said, his voice calm but firm. “You’re safe—for now.”

Her gaze darted around the room, then fixed on him. “Where am I?”

“Village of Easthaven,” Kael replied. “I found you in the forest. You said someone was chasing you. Who?”

She hesitated, her lips trembling. “They’re called the Shadow Marked. Mercenaries... no, worse than that. They’re killers, hunting anyone who stands in their way.”

“Why are they after you?” Kael pressed, his tone sharp.

The woman’s hands clenched the blanket covering her. “I—” She faltered, looking away. “I stole something from them. Something important.”

Kael’s eyes narrowed. “What did you take?”

She hesitated before whispering, “A shard of the Ascension Protocol.”

The room fell silent, the weight of her words heavy in the air. Mirel stopped her work, glancing nervously between the two.

Kael’s expression darkened. “The Ascension Protocol isn’t just a myth?”

“It’s real,” the woman replied, her voice barely audible. “And it’s dangerous. If they get it back, they’ll use it to destroy everything.”

Kael stepped closer, his tone ice-cold. “You’ve put this village in danger. If they’re coming for you, they’ll stop at nothing to get what they want.”

“I didn’t mean to,” she said desperately. “I was trying to stop them. Please, help me. If they find me, they’ll kill everyone here.”

Kael turned away, his hand running through his hair. The weight of the situation was pressing down on him.

Mirel broke the silence. “Kael, we can’t just turn her away. If what she says is true, the whole village is at risk already.”

Kael clenched his fists, his jaw tight. “I’ll do what I can. But if she’s lying, it’s on her head.”

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Scene 2: The Village Watchtower

Kael stood at the newly constructed watchtower at the village’s edge, scanning the dark forest with a wary eye. Bran climbed up to join him, carrying a lantern.

“Anything out there?” Bran asked.

“Not yet,” Kael muttered.

Bran hesitated before speaking again. “Do you believe her? About the Ascension Protocol?”

Kael’s expression remained stony. “I don’t know. But if she’s telling the truth, we’re in more danger than I thought.”

Bran nodded, his face pale. “What do we do?”

“We hold the line,” Kael replied. “If they come, we fight.”

Bran swallowed hard but nodded. “You think we can win?”

Kael’s gaze remained fixed on the forest. “We don’t have a choice.”

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Scene 3: The First Signs

The stillness of the night was broken by a distant, guttural howl. Kael’s hand shot to his sword as Bran froze beside him.

“What was that?” Bran whispered.