🔥 Chapter 23 — Tracking the Next Threat
The northern plains were calm, almost deceptively so, as Kael and Rhyne mounted their horses. The destruction of the plateau's dark nexus had sent shockwaves through the King's network, but they both knew it was only a temporary setback.
Rhyne scanned the horizon. "Kael, we delayed the King, but not for long. His generals will regroup, and whatever forces he has left… they'll come at us with renewed intensity."
Kael nodded, Ember coiling softly around his arms. "Yes. But that delay gives us a chance to anticipate his next move. The residual magical traces from the nexus point to a secondary hub—one that channels energy to the eastern borderlands. If we can find it before the King's generals fully mobilize, we can strike again."
Using the Ember as a guide, Kael focused on the faint pulses of corrupted energy still lingering in the land. Each trace was like a breadcrumb, revealing the King's carefully concealed paths and magical amplifiers.
Rhyne frowned. "These traces… they're faint, but coordinated. Whoever set them up knows we're coming. This could be another trap."
Kael's flames flared briefly. "Then we proceed carefully. Speed is important, but precision is more important. The Ember can detect disturbances in magical flow—if we follow it, we'll uncover the path and anticipate any ambushes."
Hours passed as they navigated forests, cliffs, and crumbling ruins. Each step revealed subtle signs: broken wards, residual energy spikes, and traces of movement that no ordinary tracker could detect.
Finally, Kael stopped atop a ridge, eyes narrowing. "There. The energy converges in the eastern borderlands. It's a secondary hub—smaller than the plateau, but critical to the King's operations. And it's guarded."
Rhyne's hand tightened on his blade. "Then we prepare. We need to gather information, plan our attack, and make sure we're not walking into another trap."
Kael's flames coiled protectively around him, Ember pulsing like a heartbeat. "Exactly. This is our chance to strike again, weaken his forces further, and uncover the next piece of his plan. But we need to be ready… the King's network is vast, and he will test us every step of the way."
The wind carried faint whispers of magic across the plains, and Kael felt the Ember respond. The hunt for the King's next threat had begun.