Chapter 108: A Moment to Breathe
For the first time in what felt like years, the Vanguard was allowed to rest.
After their battle against Xelthar's forces and the awakening of Life and Death, the group had set up camp deep within the ruins of Krevos. The night was quiet—unnervingly so. The usual sounds of distant creatures, rustling wind, and crackling fire felt drowned out by the presence of the two divine beings among them.
Kael sat at the edge of camp, running a whetstone along his blade.
Life had wandered off to stare at the night sky, humming softly.
Death, as still as a statue, sat cross-legged beside her, watching the fire flicker in absolute silence.
The rest of the Vanguard had split into their own routines.
Some resting.
Some trying to process the insanity of what had just happened.
Cassian sat with his back against a ruined pillar, flipping a small dagger between his fingers. Mira sat across from him, arms crossed, staring at the fire.
"This is weird," Cassian finally said.
Mira raised a brow. "What? Not being on the brink of death?"
Cassian smirked. "That. And, you know—having literal gods casually sitting in our camp."
Mira exhaled. "Yeah. That part's a little harder to believe."
Cassian tossed the dagger into the air and caught it without looking. "So… what do you think? About them?"
Mira glanced toward Life and Death, who were speaking in hushed tones a few feet away.
She frowned. "I don't know. I want to trust them, but…"
"But they're not human," Cassian finished.
"Exactly."
Cassian's usual grin dimmed slightly. "I get it. But at this point? We might need them more than they need us."
Mira didn't argue.
Because she wasn't sure if he was wrong.
A short distance away, Darius and Evelyne sparred—because of course they were.
Evelyne swung her greatsword with heavy, deliberate strikes, each impact shaking the ground beneath her. Darius, lighter on his feet, weaved between her attacks, his lightning-coated spear crackling with energy.
"You call that an overhead strike?" Darius taunted.
Evelyne scoffed. "You call that dodging? If this were a real fight, you'd be dead."
Darius smirked. "If this were a real fight, I'd just fry you before you got close."
Evelyne lunged—Darius barely dodged in time.
Their clash sent a shockwave through the camp, drawing annoyed glances from the others.
Selene, watching from the side, sighed. "Idiots."
Rael, cleaning his daggers, nodded. "Absolute idiots."
Kael exhaled, setting his blade down beside him as Lucian approached, arms crossed.
"You're thinking too much again," Lucian stated.
Kael scoffed. "Is that your way of checking in?"
Lucian smirked slightly but didn't deny it. He took a seat beside Kael, golden eyes reflecting the firelight.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then, Lucian's expression darkened. "You feel it too, don't you?"
Kael nodded. "This isn't over. Xelthar isn't just going to retreat."
Lucian exhaled. "No. They won't."
He glanced toward Life and Death, who seemed almost… peaceful. "And them?"
Kael ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know. But I do know they're not telling us everything."
Lucian hummed. "Then we watch them."
Kael sighed. "Like we don't have enough problems already."
Lucian smirked. "We're alive. That's a start."
Kael let out a dry chuckle. "Small victories, huh?"
Lucian simply shrugged.
At this point, they'd take whatever victories they could get.
A Message from the Headmaster
Just as the night settled, a pulse of mana rippled through the camp.
Everyone snapped to attention.
A flickering golden sigil materialized above the fire—an official communication rune from Headmaster Varian.
Kael immediately stood. "Varian?"
The rune flickered, before the Headmaster's voice echoed across the camp.
"Vanguard. Report."
Kael stepped forward. "We secured Krevos. Xelthar forces retreated. But… we found something. Or rather—someone."
There was a pause.
Then, Varian's voice darkened.
"I know. And that's why I'm calling."
The rune pulsed, shifting to display a moving map of the continent.
"Xelthar is already making its next move. We have confirmed reports that they are rallying their forces near the eastern borders."
The rune flared again, zooming in on a specific location.
A massive, fortified fortress, standing tall against the mountains.
"Their stronghold," Selene muttered.
Varian's tone was grim. "Your next mission… is to end this war."
Silence fell.
Lucian exhaled. "So it begins."
Kael clenched his fists.
They had no choice now.
The final battle with Xelthar was approaching.
And none of them would come out of it the same.