The next day, the manor courtyard buzzed with life. Steel clashed in steady rhythms as soldiers sparred, their shouts mingling with the ring of practice blades.
Goblins crouched by the armory steps, polishing gear until the bronze gleamed, while kobolds moved in lines, hauling crates of arrows and bundles of spears toward the supply sheds.
Kairo cut through it all with a confident stride. He greeted men and monster alike as he passed, a nod here, a casual word there, even a grin that won a chuckle or two.
His youth carried a raw energy, and for a moment it was easy to forget the edge in his voice from days prior. Some of the men answered in kind, joking with him, clapping him on the shoulder.
But laughter has a way of fading quickly. One soldier's chuckle died first, then another's. Soon the courtyard had gone quiet enough that the hiss of whetstones over blades carried clear. Their gazes shifted, following Kairo's own line of sight.