But Damien's gaze swept over the fallen men, his thoughts darker. 'Predators breeding in the cracks of Delwig's safety. Masked operatives in tunnels. And now this… The city's not nearly as secure as they want to believe.'
He extended a hand, pulling Lyone back to his feet.
"Enough for tonight," Damien said, his tone quiet but firm. "You proved your point. Now, let's go before more rats crawl out."
Lyone nodded, his pride tempered by exhaustion, and together they slipped back toward the barracks—one boy who had faced his trial, and one man who had watched silently, calculating the dangers growing all around them.
~~~~~
The morning light crept in softly through the shutters, brushing against the edges of the wooden table and the low, simple beds that Damien and his group had claimed as theirs.
