Ariwin's sobs broke the silence, sharp and painful. Her body trembled as the truth settled in—truth she had once tried so hard not to see. The cruelty, the betrayal, the skin-bound armor… it had been too much to process. Now, there was no denying it.
She gripped Selena's arm, her voice cracking. "Farakin… what happened to him?"
Selena looked away, lips pressed in grief, but it was Luther who spoke.
"He died saving you. He fought until his last breath," Luther said gently, his voice rough like gravel. "He asked us to protect you. To save his future."
Ariwin closed her eyes, the tears falling freely now. But she didn't scream. She didn't collapse. Instead, she wiped her cheeks and nodded slowly. "Of course my father wouldn't come for me. But… you did. All of you. Thank you."
Kael stepped forward then. "We also saved two more shadowkins. But… I haven't seen them since the battle."
"They must've escaped during the fight," Arya added. "Wouldn't blame them. It's what we were all raised to do—survive first, question later."
Ariwin nodded again. Her jaw was set now. Fire in her eyes. "I want to come with you. I want to fight. I want to make them pay for what they did to Farakin. To my people."
Selena smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You've already proven yourself. You're with us."
"I'll train you," Luther said firmly. "Farakin asked me to protect his future. I intend to keep that promise."
Later that night, the group gathered in the central room of the garrison's command hall—now empty of its former inhabitants. Lanterns burned low, casting long shadows over tired but determined faces. Ariwin sat beside Selena, still shaken, but her eyes had hardened. Luther stood near the northern maps spread over a battered table, while Kael traced glowing runes across the paper, tracking the pulse of magic he'd discovered.
Selena placed her hand on Kael's shoulder again. A shimmer of divine energy flickered from her fingertips, and his pupils dilated for a brief second as the magic surged through him.
"Let's find their stronghold," she said softly.
Kael closed his eyes. For a moment, silence. Then, with a soft breath, he extended both palms above the map. Threads of shimmering light unfurled like veins from his fingertips. A pulse of energy swept across the parchment like ripples in a pond. Slowly, an image took form: rugged coasts, rows of wooden homes, smoke from chimneys, and at the heart of it all—a looming black fortress built into the cliffside.
"I see it," Kael said, voice calm and sharp. "They've dug in at the edge of the peninsula, fortified by sheer cliffs on three sides. They call it Northreach Hold. There's a path in from the west—wide enough for patrols. Another trail, narrow and guarded, winds around from the cliffs. That's probably for messengers and scouts. But the city is split into three districts—military, residential, and the outer compound where prisoners are held."
Selena leaned in. "And the leader? Billmar?"
Kael nodded. "He's in the central keep. It's heavily guarded, but not impenetrable. I counted six magical wards, but they're not native. They're weak—basic protections, probably crafted by stolen scrolls or some poor spellsmith. They won't hold against us."
Luther crossed his arms. "We hit the center, fast and hard. If we strike from the cliff trail, we'll go unnoticed until it's too late. While they scramble to regroup, we make our way to the central keep and cut off Billmar."
Arya tapped the map thoughtfully. "We should split into two teams. One moves toward the prison district, frees the captured shadowkins. The other goes for Billmar."
"Stormclaw can create a distraction," Kael added. "A fire-based illusion or actual flame to pull the outer guard. They'll think it's a beast attack. Give us more room."
Selena nodded slowly. "No innocent lives. Just the soldiers. We show them power, not savagery. And once Billmar is down—we make it clear. One step into shadowkin land again, and we'll raze everything they've built."
"What if they retaliate?" Ariwin asked, her voice a quiet tremble.
"They won't," Luther replied. "Their strength lies in their fearlessness. Strip them of that, they become just people—afraid and unsure. Without Billmar, they'll scatter. Their armor won't save them when they realize magic still exists beyond what they can skin and wear."
Selena looked at each of them, eyes glowing faintly in the dim room. "This… this is more than rescue. We're drawing a line. For shadowkins. For humans. For Arthur's future."
Ariwin clenched her fists. "And for Farakin."
The room fell silent. The plan was set. The target clear.
They would rest tonight—but tomorrow, they'd take the fight to Northreach Hold.