The campfire crackled, casting bars of light across the worn faces of Kael's team. The atmosphere hung heavy with tension, derived partly from exhaustion and partly from unspoken doubts that seemed to have been left by the chaotic mission at the Syndicate depot. They had succeeded, but the question of Zara's loyalty divided them.
Kael sat apart from the others, sharpening his blade in silence. Lyra watched him from her seat near the fire, her sharp eyes occasionally flicking toward Zara, who had retreated to the outskirts of the camp. Elara sat with Coren, the two locked in a hushed conversation that was occasionally punctuated by Coren’s sharp gestures.
“You’re letting this fester,” Lyra finally said, breaking the silence.
Kael turned to her, his face unreadable. "And what would you have me do? Force them to trust her?"
"No," Lyra said, her voice low. "But you need to address it. The longer this simmers, the more likely it is to explode."
Kael blew out a sigh, the weight of leadershi
