"It’s not the time yet.

There are still a few hours left."

One of the healers spoke directly. They had been healing these people tirelessly for days now. It was already bad enough to continuously use Healing Magic for twelve hours a day, but now these people dared to wake them up mid-sleep and make them work again?

There was no way he would ever agree to that.

Or at least, that’s what the healer thought but...

Kael did not care.

He just looked at the healer with red eyes that did not look human right now and—

"I said come with me."

He ordered in a cold, frosty tone, and the healer froze, not daring to say another word as the images of that day—when this man burned his comrades to ashes right in front of them—reappeared in his head.

The rest of the healers were no different. They could see that Kael’s eyes were... different.

He looked angry, yes, but... it wasn’t exactly the anger that scared them. It was... something uglier, something... shaken, something that was about to break.

"What happened?"

Another healer asked in a quieter voice.

"We were bombed. Even children are hurt."

The healers hesitated.

This... this was clearly an emergency.

No wonder he looked like that.

But before the healers could say anything, another sharp voice was heard.

"Your emergency has nothing to do with us."

It was Aurelia, who had stood up and was staring right at Kael. Her hair was messy, but her eyes held a sharp edge.

"We are your prisoners. Not your allies."

She spoke in a cold, strict tone, making everything clear.

That was when Kael turned and looked at her. Their eyes met and Aurelia... she froze too.

Of course, she wasn’t scared. More than fear, she was... surprised. After all, she had never seen this look in Kael’s eyes.

His eyes were red and... wet.

There were tears at the very edge, refusing to come out, but they were more than enough to show the emotional state Kael was currently in.

Anger, frustration, self-blame and... responsibility that was too heavy for someone as inexperienced as him.

And right now, that anger that did not have any outlet was directed at them—

"If you do not follow...

I will execute every single one of you."

Kael threatened directly and...

The entire corridor went silent.

Even the Velmourn guards standing at the gates stiffened.

Aurelia’s eyes widened.

For the first time in a long time—

She looked... genuinely shocked.

Because the look in Kael’s eyes told her that this wasn’t just an empty threat. He would follow through with it.

And nothing in the world would stop him.

Aurelia swallowed, but she too was a general. She needed to step up for her people when it was required.

So that’s what she did.

"I want to come as well."

She demanded.

"What will you do?"

Kael asked directly, and Aurelia answered what she had prepared in that little window she was given.

"One of my Bonds has healing power.

If it’s truly an emergency... you need every hand you can take."

Kael stared at her.

"And what if you run using all that chaos?"

He asked, and Aurelia answered honestly—

"If we wanted to run, we would have tried when we still had strength and the surprise factor.

We didn’t.

Why would we run now when we are already surrounded by your soldiers and are in the middle of your people with your eyes on us?"

Kael’s fingers twitched. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Aurelia continued, her voice calmer, like she was negotiating a deal.

"If any of my men run... you can kill us.

All of us.

No one in the world will blame you then."

"That’s easy to say."

Kael’s gaze sharpened.

Aurelia exhaled.

Then she looked around and spoke louder so everyone could hear.

"If you want, I will say it into a recording crystal.

A clear oath.

You keep it.

If we betray you, you show the world why you executed prisoners."

And Kael paused.

He wanted to believe those words, he really did, but—

’Father, she is right. We need as many hands as we can get. The situation is dire. Many have lost their lives, many are on the verge of death.’

Before he could even construct his thoughts, Imperia spoke in a grim tone and Kael...

He did something he had been avoiding all this while.

He decided to trust his instincts.

And the moment he made that decision, a light flickered in his eyes. Aurelia noticed it and—

"Do you want me to take out the recording cryst—"

She wanted to ask, but Kael interrupted her and—

"I do not need a crystal.

I will take your word."

He decided to trust Aurelia again.

Aurelia blinked in surprise; she was clearly not expecting this, especially after what happened in the past.

"This time, I hope your men follow."

Kael spoke directly, looking into Aurelia’s eyes.

"They will."

Aurelia nodded with a meaningful look on her face, then her gaze flicked to the rest of her men and—

"They have seen what happens when they don’t."

For a second, a memory flashed through the air without words.

That battlefield.

Those flames.

That moment when Kael’s anger became something worse and burned every single thing around them.

It had all begun the same way, when one of them decided to go back on their General’s words.

And now...

None of them wanted to repeat the same mistake again.

Kael noticed that look, but his mind was too hazy to recognize it. He just turned towards the Velmourn guards and—

"Unlock the ones with healing Bonds,"

He ordered.

The guards hesitated, but they understood the situation needed quick action, so they did not waste time.

The first one was Aurelia, then the others.

One by one, chains clinked, locks opened. A few prisoners stood up shakily with wary looks on their faces, but the moment Aurelia turned towards them, they flinched and straightened up.

Then the Sky Serpent General spoke in a far scarier tone.

"Do not make the same mistake.

I will kill you myself before he gets the chance to."

The soldiers flinched but nodded. They weren’t planning on repeating it anyway. They did not wish to end up like the man who did make that mistake before.

Aurelia nodded, satisfied by the reaction. Then she turned towards Kael and nodded.

Kael didn’t waste more time either—

"Move,"

He ordered as he stepped out of the prison corridor with a solemn look on his face.

And behind him—

Three healers.

Aurelia.

And every prisoner whose Bond could close a wound faster than a human hand, followed.

Kael led them into the morning snow.

The wind hit them all at once.

The Sky Soldiers then took out their Bonds. Kael too jumped into the air, once again making the Sky Soldiers feel awed by how a human could fly.

Kael didn’t care. He led them through the morning sky.

Eight Sky Kingdom soldiers followed behind him on their Bonds, a tight flying line cutting through the cold air.

...

The Stonefang Quarter looked like it was torn open, like the sky itself had reached down and ripped it apart.

Several roofs were gone—stone slabs thrown aside like toys. One house wall had collapsed inward. The center lane had wide and ugly black burn marks with shards of something dark stuck in the ground.

Shards that were... everywhere.

Some still smoked.

Some were still hot, melting snow into hissing steam.

And all across the quarter—

Bodies.

People.

Hurt people.

There was smoke everywhere.

Thick smoke crawling from cracks and broken doors that were now stained black and bitter.

And worse than smoke—

Was the sound.

The screams filled with pain and panic.

Children cried in pain; they were hurt, their injuries were grave. Their mothers were no different, their injuries were grave too—graver than the children’s because most Stonefang Mothers reacted at the very last moment to take most of the damage themselves and protect their children.

But even then—

The mothers cried, more in fear and helplessness as they watched their children wither in pain than from their own injuries.

The elderlies were no different. Their bodies were already weak; they did not have the strength they used to have. Their bodies were no longer used to damage and injuries, so they had it worst, and their pain only increased when they saw their children feel the same pain.

It was... a terrifying sight.

A sight that would make any man’s blood run cold.

Stonefangs were everywhere, running through the chaos like wolves with their den burning behind them.

A patrol warrior grabbed an injured child and carried him in both arms. The child’s face was gray, one of his legs was missing, and he was crying—screaming constantly.

An elderly man lay on his side, shaking, both legs twisted wrong. His eyes were open, but empty. He... he seemed to be dead or had given up the will to live.

A mother crawled through the snow with one arm, dragging herself toward her child, leaving a line of red behind her. Her other arm was left behind.

Yes.

It was...

A nightmare.