Ashes Whisper

Chapter 88 : Obsession and Revenge

The battlefield remained unnaturally still.

Smoke drifted through the air. Broken weapons and fallen bodies lay scattered the war had only paused, not ended. Samael stepped forward,  as he observed the horizon. Even with the silence, his instincts did not relax.

"Listen carefully!" his voice rang out across the forces of Eldar.

The soldiers straightened immediately.

"Even if the Eldritch have halted for now, this is not peace," he continued, "Hold your positions. Reinforce the perimeter. Triage the wounded. I want every unit ready to move at a moment's notice."

There was no hesitation.

"Yes, my prince!" voices answered in unison.

Samael turned slightly, his eyes narrowing as he looked toward the distant horizon where the sky still twisted unnaturally.

"They're waiting..." he muttered under his breath.

At the nearby, Elara helped Riven to his feet, his strength not yet fully returned. 

Mikaela rushed forward first.

"Sister!" she called, relief flooding her voice as she embraced Elara tightly. "You're back... you're really back..."

Elara returned the embrace softly, her expression gentle but tired.

Zarek, Khai, Imzyh, and Rina gathered around them, for a brief moment, they were together again.

But Elara's she continue.

"We don't have much time," she said, despite the exhaustion in her body. "We need to move. Our next destination is the Arvandor Kingdom."

The group fell silent. They all understood what that meant. Suddenly Riven stepped forward.

"I'm coming with you."

Elara turned to him immediately. "Riven, no. Your condition..."

"I'm fine," he interrupted, though his body clearly said otherwise. His breathing was uneven, and his stance still slightly unbalanced. "I won't stay behind while you face this alone."

Elara she shook her head.

"You just came back... your body hasn't fully recovered yet. If you push yourself now...."

"I don't care," Riven said, more quietly this time. "I've already been lost once. I won't let that happen again..."

Elara hesitated.

For a moment, she didn't know what to say.

Samael stepped in.

"Then you won't be going now," he said calmly.

Both of them turned toward him. 

Samael crossed his arms, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Riven stays with me. We'll remain here and deal with what's left of the Eldritch forces."

Riven frowned. "Samael...."

"You heard me," Samael cut in, though not harshly. "You're in no shape to fight at full strength. And this battlefield still needs to be secured. If the Eldritch surge again while everyone leaves, we lose everything we just protected."

He looked directly at Riven.

"And I'll need someone I can trust to hold the line with me."

Riven went silent.