As Zara, Kael, Elara, and Lyra made their way through the ruins' bleak streets, their breaths creating little clouds in the chilly, ash-filled air, the ruins were strangely still. Overhead, the dense veil was scarcely broken by the glimmer of morning. Every step they took towards the rebel stronghold felt like a march into uncertainty as the weight of their mission weighed hard on their shoulders.
Kael took aim, watching for any movement with alert, keen eyes. Even though the former heir to the empire had repeatedly shown his fealty, Zara's mind was still plagued by memories of his past. But as she looked at him, she was comforted by the resolve on his face. This was a man battling for a better future, not the same man who was now burdened by the sins of the empire.
Following closely behind were Elara and Lyra, whose presence was both consoling and complicated. They had already been saved several times by Elara's strategic abilities, but her distant manner frequently made it hard to d
