The Elementiels

Ch. 16: BENEATH THE MOONLIGHT

Over a week ago, the sun dipped below the horizon as the knights settled into their camp. The flickering orange glow of the campfires mirrored the fatigue in their faces after a long day's ride. Nearby, Commander Elijah stood tall, his authoritative voice cutting through the evening air.

"Alright, we'll camp here for the night," he announced, gesturing toward the open fields. "Tomorrow, at first light, we begin the examination. Males will take the left field; females, the right. Keep discipline and rest well. Understood?!"

A chorus of voices rang out in unison. "Understood, sir!"

The students quickly divided, setting up their tents in their respective fields. The clinking of armor and the rustle of canvas filled the air as the camp came to life. By the time the moon rose, the boys had kindled a fire in their corner of the field, its warmth drawing them into a loose circle.

Mike stretched his arms wide, a cocky grin plastered across his face. "What a ride, right? Nearly killed my backside sitting in that saddle all day."

David leaned back, laughing as he tore into a piece of bread. "No kidding. I don't think I've ever felt this tired before."

Adam poked the fire with a stick, a smile tugging at his lips. "We better eat and get some sleep. Tomorrow's not going to be any easier."

Mike stood abruptly, puffing out his chest. "Sleep? Please. This examination will be a breeze! With our training and advanced armor, those dragons won't know what hit them!"

Ben, who had been staring pensively into the flames, shook his head. "I just wish the dragons would go back to where they came from."

Mike snorted, his confident demeanor unwavering. "Come on, Ben. Everyone knows the dragons were driven out from their land years ago. It's ancient history. And we all know who's to blame for that."

Ben's face became pale. He glanced around nervously before hissing, "Shush! You can't just talk about "HIM" out loud! I heard people who do end up cursed with bad luck."

The boys laughed, their amusement cutting through the tension. Frank clapped Ben on the shoulder. "Relax, Ben. Those are just stories, meant to scare kids into behaving."

Ben frowned but didn't reply, his eyes drifting back to the fire.

Adam leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Ben's not entirely wrong. It would be easier if the dragons could return to their homeland, but we all know that's impossible now. They're not just attacking us because they want to-they're doing it to survive. They're adapting to the life they were forced into."

The circle grew quiet, each boy contemplating Adam's words. The fire crackled as David broke the silence. "It's tragic when you think about it. The Dragon Continent is the largest in the world. They must have had everything they needed there-forests, mountains, resources. Now it's us who are paying for what that... monster did." He trailed off, shaking his head.

The boys nodded in agreement, the weight of the conversation grounding them. For a while, they ate in silence, the flicker of the flames and the distant rustling of leaves their only companions. Then, inevitably, Mike broke the solemn mood.

"So," he said, leaning back with a sly grin. "Let's talk about the girls."

Frank groaned, rolling his eyes. "Seriously, Mike? You can't go one night without bringing this up?"

"What? It's harmless fun," Mike retorted, nudging David with his elbow. "Hey, David, you got your eye on anyone?"

David chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Well... actually, yeah. There's this girl back in the kingdom. She's a tailor-really talented and hardworking. I've liked her for a while now."