Darian's eyes fluttered open. For a moment, the world was nothing but a blur of light and pain. Slowly, shapes formed, he was lying on a bed, his body wrapped head to toe in bandages, each breath pulling at fresh scars.
A familiar weight pressed against his chest.
"Snowy…" Darian murmured. The little creature was curled on top of him, sleeping soundly.
He looked around. The room was unfamiliar, white walls, faint smell of herbs and medicine. Definitely not anywhere he'd been before.
The door creaked open. Lara stepped in, her face lighting up.
"Darian! You're awake!" She rushed to his side, already checking his bandages.
"I'm fine…" Darian winced. "But how are the others?"
"Liro's recovering well, he barely got hurt compared to you two. But Vane…" Her voice faltered. She looked down. "He's not fighting for his life anymore, but it'll be a long road to recovery. If we'd arrived a few seconds later…"
Darian's stomach twisted.
"I asked Liro this too, but… what exactly was that monster?"
A new voice came from the doorway. "I'd like to know that as well."
Darian turned his head. "Boss…"
Alerya entered, pulling up a chair. "Tell me everything," she said, her tone sharper than usual.
Darian hesitated, rubbing his forehead. "It could speak… and it said something strange."
"I know," Alerya said, standing and moving to the window. "It called us invaders, didn't it?"
Lara frowned. "But… that makes no sense. Five hundred years ago, their planet crashed into ours, right?"
"That's what history says," Darian replied. "So why would it call us the invaders? Did humans do something to them?"
Alerya shook her head. "No. Liro read some records saying that after the collision, they attacked us first."
Darian sighed. "It doesn't add up. And there's something else… the Krukin said they're getting stronger."
"Stronger?" Alerya asked, turning back toward him.
"Yes. I don't know how, but he sounded certain."
"Maybe it's because of those portals," Alerya said, resuming her seat.
"They were definitely magical," Lara added.
"Since when can Krukins use magic?" Kael's voice cut in as he entered with Liro and Allocen.
Lara glanced around the crowded room. "Alright, too many people in here. Let's move."
They stepped outside, then made their way to the meeting hall. Lara excused herself to continue tending to the injured, leaving the others gathered.
The group returned to their meeting room.
The buidling was not far away luckly, just 5 minutes of walking.
They arrived, Darian and Liro sat closer to eachother, Kael on the couch in the front and Allocen as always stand still behind the couch.
Alerya was sitting in the desk.
"They spoke our language. Maybe they have a human ally," Allocen suggested.
The room went quiet, partly from the shock of hearing Allocen's voice, partly from the idea itself.
"Who would be dumb enough to side with them?" Kael muttered.
"It's a possibility we can't ignore," Alerya said. "And that stone… you said he destroyed it and the portal appeared?"
"Yes," Liro confirmed. "Could've been a signal."
"Oh... wait" Darian suddently remembered something to ask to Kael and Liro "how did you even get to us through all those Kruktopus on the second floor?" Darian asked Kael.
Kael grinned. "Easy. Allocen sent his golem underwater. It ate them all."
Darian blinked. 'Underwater? Ate them? How strong is this guy…'
Alerya stood, looking out the window again as if weighing something. Then she turned sharply. "I've decided. We'll keep our mission, what my father, the old king promised before their deaths. We'll prepare an expedition and wipe them out."
Her voice burned with anger.
"You'll come too?" Darian asked.
"Depends on the Seven Sages," she said, frustration in her eyes.
"The team's enough," Kael replied confidently.
"But what about Vane? And Lara?" Liro asked.
"Vane stays. Lara can come, there are enough doctors here," Alerya said, scanning the map.
"And you'll defend the city?" Kael asked.
Alerya smirked. "I'll be fine. My power's more than enough."
The meeting wound down. Orders would come soon. As Darian reached his room, Allocen stepped up.
"Darian… got a minute?"
"Sure. What is it?" Snowy jumped onto the bed, curling up again.
"I want your opinion. Do you think what we're doing is right?"
"Of course it's right, they attacked us first!" Darian replied, almost offended.
Allocen's face was unreadable. "But… what if they're just defending themselves? They're living creatures too."
"They destroyed everything. They rule over what's left of the Earth," Darian said firmly.
Allocen turned away. "Maybe. But remember that we invaded them first. Maybe they're more scared than we are."
He walked off, leaving Darian staring after him.
That night, lying in bed, Darian couldn't stop hearing Allocen's words. They followed him into uneasy sleep.