LEGENDS OF ELDORIA

CHAPTER 14

The next morning, the group of students stirred from their restless sleep, the rising sun casting a pale light through the dense trees of the forest. Zariel was the first to wake, feeling the dull ache of pain radiating through his body. He groaned as he slowly got to his feet, looking around at the others. Kai was still perched on the rock from the night before, though his eyes were closed now. The rest of the students began waking up one by one, still battered and exhausted from the previous night's events.

"We should get moving," Zariel said quietly, his voice rough from fatigue.

The group agreed without much discussion. They were all eager to get back to the safety of the Citadel. They gathered their few belongings and made their way through the forest. As they neared the edge of the woods, the faint sound of rushing water reached their ears—indicating they were close to the bridge that would lead them back toward the Citadel.

As they approached the bridge, they spotted something up ahead—a group of figures standing in formation. At first, Zariel tensed, thinking it might be more enemies, but as they got closer, the figures became clearer. It was a group of officers from the Citadel, and leading them was Thorne. Relief washed over Zariel and the others like a wave, and they picked up their pace, heading straight for the bridge.

The moment Thorne saw them, his stern expression melted into one of immense relief. His sharp eyes scanned the group, checking each student to ensure they were all accounted for.

"There they are!" one of the officers shouted, quickly signaling to the others.

Immediately, a group of medics and officers rushed forward, offering aid to the injured. Zariel, still aching but able to walk, was gently pushed to sit down while a medic quickly inspected his wounds. Kai, though still appearing stoic, was visibly weakened. He was guided to a spot where medics began to treat the arrow wound in his arm.

"Thank the gods you're all safe," Thorne muttered, his voice gruff as he approached Zariel and the rest of the group. He stopped before Zariel and looked down at him with a rare softness in his eyes, though his tone remained stern. "You're lucky we got word in time."

Zariel gave a tired but grateful smile. "Yeah, we... we got lucky."

"You're all idiots," Thorne added, though there was no real bite to his words. "But you're alive. That's what matters."

The other students began to relax as the officers worked efficiently, providing water and medical supplies to anyone who needed it. Caspian winced as a medic checked his bruised face, while Elara sat quietly, her hand resting on her stomach where she had taken a hit during the battle. Vikram and Orin, though older and more experienced, were also being treated, their injuries visible but not life-threatening.

"Let's get you all back to the Citadel," Thorne ordered. "You'll be debriefed once we've made sure everyone's recovered. Move out."

The students nodded, exhausted but relieved to finally be heading home. Zariel glanced over at Kai, who was sitting silently as the medics wrapped his arm. Despite everything, he still looked unbothered, as though the events of the past day hadn't fazed him at all.

"You good?" Zariel asked, stepping over to him once the medics had finished.

Kai glanced up, his expression as blank as ever. "I'm fine."

Zariel smirked. "Sure, you are. Just don't pass out on the way back."

Kai didn't reply, but there was the faintest flicker of amusement in his eyes before he stood up, ready to follow the others back to the Citadel.