Silence After the Storm
The river still ran red.
Mist coiled around the battlefield, carrying the scent of iron and sweat. Water rippled gently where swords had clashed only moments ago, as if the river itself tried to erase the memory of blood spilled. The squad warrior's shadow had dissolved into the haze, leaving behind no trace but wounds carved into flesh and spirit alike.
Kaen stood in the shallow water, blade dangling loosely at his side. His chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, each inhale burning as if his lungs were filled with fire. His eyes were fixed on the ripples, unblinking, as though half-expecting the masked warrior to rise again from the depths.
(Inner monologue – Kaen):
"He was… stronger than anything we've faced. And that wasn't even their full power. If one man could push us this far… how many more shadows are waiting? How many more battles until one of us doesn't rise again?"
Behind him, Daren collapsed to one knee, his massive weapon sinking into the mud beside him. He clutched at the gash running along his arm, crimson soaking his hand. His breaths were rough, but his eyes blazed with defiance.
Daren (grunting, forcing a smirk):
"Ha… thought he could knock me down? Not happening. Not while I still got legs under me."
Riku lowered his sword carefully, his expression unreadable, though the sharpness in his gaze softened for the first time that night. He scanned the mist, confirming no more enemies were lurking. Only then did he allow his shoulders to relax, just slightly.
Lyra staggered toward the riverbank, knees buckling. Her bow slipped from her trembling fingers and landed with a dull splash in the mud. She turned her head upward, watching the faint, fading stars above the mist.
Lyra (softly):
"It's… finally over…"
But the voice that broke the silence most powerfully was trembling and uncertain.
Fin.
He stood in the shallows, his sword still raised though his arms shook violently. His face was pale, streaked with dirt and blood. His chest heaved, and his eyes were wide, as though even now he couldn't believe what he had done.
Fin (whispering, more to himself than anyone else):
"I… I didn't run… I fought… I actually…"
His blade slipped from his hands and clattered into the water. He fell to his knees, gripping his palms, blood dripping from the shallow cuts across them.
(Inner monologue – Fin):
"If I'd hesitated even a second longer… Lyra would've been…"
Lyra approached, her steps uneven, and crouched beside him. She placed her hand gently over his shaking ones.
Lyra (soft, kind):
"You didn't just fight, Fin. You saved me."
Fin blinked, tears welling at the edges of his eyes. His throat tightened, words stuck in the raw storm of his emotions. He wanted to deny it, to call himself weak, cowardly—but her eyes told him the truth.
And for the first time, he let himself believe it.
---
Wounds and Bonds
The group made their way slowly to the riverbank, each step heavier than the last. The adrenaline that had carried them through the clash had vanished, leaving only exhaustion and pain in its wake.
Kaen dropped down onto the damp grass, leaning his blade across his knees. His head hung low, bangs shadowing his eyes. Sweat dripped down his chin, mixing with the river water still clinging to his clothes.
Riku sat a few feet away, carefully examining the cut across his forearm. He tore a strip from his sleeve and bound it with practiced precision. His voice was calm, steady as always.
Riku:
"We survived. That's what matters."
Daren gave a short laugh, rough and hoarse, clutching his injured arm.
Daren:
"'Survived' feels like an understatement. I feel like I got run over by a damn herd of dinosaurs."
The joke earned a faint smile from Lyra despite her exhaustion. She sat beside Fin, helping him wrap his injured palms with strips of cloth.
Kaen raised his head slowly, his amber eyes glinting faintly in the misty dawn light.
Kaen (quietly):
"No… Daren's right. 'Survived' isn't enough. We barely made it. If that squad warrior had pressed harder…"
He trailed off, his grip on his sword tightening.
(Inner monologue – Kaen):
"I thought strength alone could carry me through. But it wasn't my blade that saved us. It was Daren holding the line. It was Fin's courage. It was Lyra's warning. Riku's orders. We only stood because we stood together."
Kaen's jaw clenched, but then he let out a long, unsteady breath. For the first time, the weight in his chest didn't feel like a burden—it felt like resolve.
---
The Sun and the Horn
The mist began to thin, touched by the first light of dawn. The sky shifted from black to gray, then to pale gold, and the river reflected it in shimmering fragments.
Then—
A sound.
The deep, resonant blast of a horn echoed across the forest, shaking the mist itself. It rolled through the trees, commanding silence, announcing an end.
The trainees froze. For a moment, no one dared breathe.
Then Riku exhaled. His shoulders dropped, and a faint nod confirmed what they all hoped.
Riku:
"The trial… is over."
Lyra covered her mouth with trembling fingers, tears brimming.
Lyra (voice cracking):
"It's… really… over?"
Daren let out a booming laugh despite his wounds, throwing his head back.
Daren:
"Ha! We lived, damn it! Against all odds—we lived!"
Fin slumped backward into the grass, staring up at the brightening sky. Tears streamed down his cheeks, though his lips curled into a fragile smile.
Fin (whispering):
"Mom… I didn't give up. I really didn't…"
Kaen tilted his head back, eyes fixed on the sunrise breaking over the horizon. The golden light washed over their battered figures, painting them in warmth that felt almost unreal after the endless cold of the mist.
(Inner monologue – Kaen):
"We survived the night. We survived them. And now… maybe, just maybe… there's still a future waiting for us beyond this hell."
---
Conversations in the Dawn
They lingered there, unwilling to move just yet, letting the relief sink into their bones.
Daren stretched his legs with a groan.
Daren:
"Remind me to never fight in a river again. My boots are ruined."
Lyra laughed softly, her voice shaky but genuine.
Lyra:
"I think your boots are the least of your worries, Daren."
Riku smirked faintly, shaking his head.
Riku:
"At least you still have boots. Half the squad lost theirs in the mud yesterday."
Fin sat up slowly, rubbing at his eyes. He looked at each of them in turn, his voice hesitant.
Fin:
"Do you guys… really think I did okay? Back there, I mean…"
Daren reached over with his uninjured arm and ruffled Fin's hair roughly, almost knocking him over.
Daren:
"'Okay'? Kid, you saved Lyra. You stood your ground when it mattered. That's more than most."
Lyra's smile softened.
Lyra:
"He's right, Fin. You're braver than you believe."
Fin's chest tightened, tears threatening again—but this time they were warm, not bitter.
Kaen finally spoke, his voice low but steady.
Kaen:
"We wouldn't be here without you, Fin. Don't forget that."
The younger boy's eyes widened, stunned at Kaen's words. Then, slowly, he nodded.
---
Survivors' Dawn
The horn sounded again, closer this time, guiding them toward the gathering point.
Kaen rose to his feet, swaying slightly but refusing to fall. He sheathed his blade and turned to his team, his eyes burning with quiet determination.
Kaen:
"Let's go. Together."
They moved as one, battered but unbroken, stepping out of the mist and into the light of dawn.
Each carried wounds, scars that would not fade quickly—but also bonds that had been forged in fire.
As the sun rose higher, washing the battlefield in gold, Kaen's thoughts lingered.
(Inner monologue – Kaen):
"Strength alone won't win this war. Alone, I'm nothing. But together… together, we can carve a path through even the darkest night."
The camera would rise slowly above them, showing the survivors stepping into the clearing where others began to gather, some bloodied, some missing—but alive.
And for the first time since the nightmare began… hope flickered in their hearts.