×𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑-𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒×

Chapter 35: A Rift in the Flames

The battle was not over. The brief respite the defenders of Aeloria had earned was fading fast as reports poured in from the outer provinces. Lord Braden’s forces had regrouped faster than expected, and new, darker alliances were emerging in the shadows. The enemy wasn’t just returning; they were evolving into something more sinister. The weight of the impending conflict loomed over the city like a storm ready to burst.

Lyra sat in the war room, her eyes scanning the intelligence reports with growing concern. The map before her had new enemy movements marked in bright red—arrows leading toward strategic positions around the city, cutting off any escape routes. She clenched her fists, frustration building in her chest. Braden wasn’t simply preparing for another siege; he was preparing to crush them.

Kael entered the room, his presence immediately drawing her attention. The tension between them had grown more palpable with each passing day. They had been through so much together—the shared victories, the quiet moments when they thought they might lose, and the growing connection that neither could deny. But the looming war had begun to build a wedge between them, a sense of inevitable loss that neither wanted to acknowledge.

“More bad news?” Kael asked, his voice steady as he approached the table.

Lyra nodded, her brow furrowing. “Braden’s regrouped faster than we anticipated. And it’s worse than we thought. He’s formed alliances with dark factions from the East. Necromancers, Kael.”

Kael’s jaw clenched. “Necromancers? Damn it. That complicates everything.”

“They’re raising the dead as they march. I’ve seen reports of villages being wiped out, only to rise again as Braden’s army.” Lyra’s voice trembled with a mix of anger and despair. “We can’t fight an enemy that grows stronger with every casualty.”

Kael placed a hand on the table, his fingers curling into a fist. He was silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then he turned to her, his eyes searching hers. “We’ll find a way. We always do.”

The words were meant to reassure her, but there was something unspoken behind them—a hesitation that hadn’t been there before. Lyra felt it too. The battles they’d fought together had drawn them closer, but the uncertainty of the war’s outcome was pulling them apart.

“I hope you’re right,” Lyra said softly, her gaze drifting back to the map. “But we’re running out of time. We’re running out of everything.”

A tense silence fell between them. Lyra could feel the weight of Kael’s presence beside her, the way his emotions seemed to swirl just beneath the surface. They had been so close, but now the war threatened to tear them apart before they could truly confront what was growing between them.

“I… I need to get some air,” Kael said suddenly, his voice tight.

Lyra blinked, startled. “Kael, what—?”

“I’ll be back,” he said, cutting her off as he turned and strode out of the room.

Lyra watched him go, confusion and hurt welling up inside her. Something had shifted. The Kael she knew never backed down, never ran from anything. But now, it seemed like he was running from her.

Outside, Kael paced along the city walls, his mind racing. The battle was weighing on him more than he’d let on, but it wasn’t just the war. It was her—Lyra. He couldn’t deny the connection that had grown between them, but with the city on the brink of destruction, the last thing either of them needed was more complications.

He leaned against the stone wall, staring out at the horizon. He’d fought in countless battles, faced down enemies that should have killed him. But this—whatever this was with Lyra—scared him in a way he hadn’t expected. He had never allowed himself to get close to anyone, never allowed his heart to get tangled up in something so fragile. He had responsibilities, soldiers depending on him, and a city that needed protecting.