Elias had been on Khesteros for months now. When he first arrived, it had been like stepping into an entirely different world,different from his own, but strangely familiar. The people here, though warriors, weren’t the hardened, battle-hardened soldiers Elias had imagined. No, they were young men and women who had been thrust into this life, forced to fight for their homes, for their people’s survival.

  Elias found himself attached to the Khesteri in a way he hadn’t expected. He’d opened a small shop in the heart of the settlement, working with his hands, creating armor and war machines. He helped them build better weapons, more effective tools. They needed what he could offer, and he had been happy to provide it. Over time, as he worked with them, he got to know them. The warriors weren’t trained killers, they were just people doing the best they could, trying to protect what little they had. And Elias, despite his own past, saw that. He saw their humanity.

  But Aeliana… Aeliana was different.

  She was distant, watchful. Even though they had worked together on several projects, Elias could never fully read her. And, quite frankly, it pissed her off. She was used to seeing into people’s minds, understanding their thoughts, sensing their emotions. But Elias… Elias was an enigma. She couldn’t read him like she could read everyone else. And that drove her crazy.

  She appreciated the help he brought,his knowledge of technology, his ability to think outside the box,but he was a puzzle she couldn’t solve.

  One evening, Elias worked at his station, tinkering with the designs for the next phase of their project. It was late, and the low hum of his tools was the only sound in the room. He didn’t notice Aeliana slip into the shop until she stood quietly at the threshold.

  She crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on him, but there was no judgment in her eyes, only curiosity.

  “Progress,” she said, her voice low but carrying the weight of authority.

  Elias looked up, wiping his hands on a rag. “If by progress you mean making armor that doesn’t make you look like you’re still stuck in the Bronze Age, then yes, I’d say we’re doing pretty well.”

  Aeliana raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “I meant the weapons. The upgrades.”

  Elias chuckled. “Yeah, those too. I’ve been trying to streamline them, make ‘em more efficient. No reason to keep using bulky, outdated designs when we can get the same results with a lighter, more compact build.”

  She nodded thoughtfully, stepping further into the shop. “You’ve done well. The soldiers are starting to take notice.”

  He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes meeting hers. “They shouldn’t have to take notice. They should already be used to it. You can’t win wars with old ways. It’s not enough anymore. You need innovation. You need change.”

  Aeliana paused, studying him as though she could read something deeper in his words. “Is that your philosophy?” she asked, her tone a little sharper than before. “Change for the sake of change?”

  Elias shrugged, his hands clasped behind his head as he leaned back against the workbench. “Maybe. Or maybe it’s just because I’m sick of seeing people die for no reason. The way I see it, if there’s something better, you use it. If it helps, you don’t think twice about it.”

  Aeliana’s gaze softened for a brief moment, before it returned to its usual steely focus. “Not everything can be fixed with tools and weapons, Elias.”

  He met her gaze without flinching. “Maybe not. But I’ve seen enough wars to know that they’re won with more than just blood. If you don’t have the right tools, the right advantages… you’re dead before you even start.”

  Aeliana was quiet for a moment. She could see there was something in his eyes, something more than the soldier he had become, but it wasn’t something she could read. And that was what made her uneasy. She wasn’t used to people who didn’t wear their emotions on their sleeves, who didn’t reveal their thoughts without a second thought.

  “Tell me something,” she asked, her voice quieter this time. “Why did you come here? What is it that you want?”

  Elias looked at her, his expression unreadable for a moment, before his lips curled into a half-smile. “I didn’t exactly sign up to save the world, Aeliana. But I did sign up to help people. If that makes me some kind of savior, then so be it. But I’m not here for anything but the right thing to do.”

  She frowned, unsure of what he meant, but before she could ask further, he pushed off the workbench and began packing up his things. “You ever heard of the beings in the pool?” he asked casually, not looking at her.

  “The ones that whispered when you landed?”

  Elias’ gaze flickered to hers. “Yeah, those ones. They said I’d be needed. That I had a part to play.”

  Aeliana froze. The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Her mother had told her stories when she was a child,tales of beings that existed before the Khesteros even had a name. Powerful entities who only appeared when the world was on the brink of collapse. They didn’t show themselves often, but when they did, it was a sign that something worse was coming.

  “They’ve been here since before Khesteros was even founded,” Aeliana said, her voice trembling slightly. “I remember my mother telling me about them when I was younger. She said they only appeared in the most dire of times, when the world itself was on the brink of destruction.”

  Elias raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden seriousness in her voice. “And you believe that? The stories?”

  Aeliana shifted uncomfortably, casting her gaze downward. “I don’t know. But I think… I think you might be telling the truth. That’s what scares me. I didn’t believe in any of it, but if those beings have anything to do with what’s happening now…”

  “Then we’re screwed?”

  She glanced up at him, catching the glimmer of humor in his eyes. “I wasn’t going to say that.”

  Elias gave a small laugh, his usual irreverence softening the mood. “I guess we’ll see, huh?”

  She smiled faintly, the first real smile she’d shared with him since he’d arrived.

  “Tell me more,” she said quietly, her voice losing its sharp edge for once. “About your people, about your home.”

  For a few long moments, Elias just looked at her, as if trying to decide how much to say. Finally, he shook his head. “It’s complicated. But it’s the same as any other place. People fighting for power, for survival, for their homes.”

  Aeliana nodded, her eyes distant. “Sounds familiar.”

  Their conversation flowed from that moment, a slow, tentative exchange of thoughts and truths, each piece building upon the last. As they spoke, something shifted in the air between them. Elias wasn’t the distant, enigmatic stranger he had once been to Aeliana. Now, she could see him for who he was. A man with a past,much like hers, only different. But for the first time, they connected.

  “You piss me off, you know that?” Aeliana muttered, half to herself.

  Elias glanced at her, surprised. “What do you mean?”

  “I can’t read you,” she said, her frustration coming through in her voice. “You say things, but there’s nothing behind them. You don’t react the way others do. It’s like you’re… different.”

  Elias raised his eyebrows, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Oh, so you do have a thing about reading people?”

  “Of course I do,” she shot back. “It’s how I lead. It’s how I understand people.”

  “Well, that explains a lot,” Elias said, leaning in with a teasing smile. “You know, back on my world, this was a big deal. People got screwed trusting the wrong people. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been burned.”

  Aeliana blinked, clearly not understanding. “Screwed? What is that?”

  Elias stared at her, blinking in return. “Uh… I’m going to assume you don’t have that phrase here. Okay, so… it’s like being tricked. Betrayed.”

  Aeliana stared at him for a moment, then laughed softly. It was unexpected, light, and strangely freeing. “That’s a strange way to put it.”

  Elias chuckled. “I guess you could say we’re weird like that. But hey, what’s life without a little confusion?”

  For the first time, Aeliana genuinely smiled. “You’re impossible.”

  “And yet, you like it.”

  Aeliana raised an eyebrow but didn’t deny it. “You know, maybe you’re not as bad as I thought.”

  Elias gave her a wicked grin. “So, you’re starting to trust me?”

  “Maybe,” she said, her eyes glinting with amusement. “But you’re still a pain.”

  “Hey, no one said trust was easy.”

  The evening had come like an inevitable storm, heavy with the weight of expectation. The sounds of the settlement,the clang of metal, the distant chatter of soldiers and civilians,had quieted somewhat as the scouts returned. Their faces were grim, their bodies battered, their eyes clouded with the burden of defeat.

  Aeliana stood at the front, her posture strong yet reflective, watching as the group entered the war room. They were weary, their armor scuffed, and their movements slow. She could see it in their eyes before they even spoke,the mission had gone wrong.

  One of the scouts, a young man with a scar across his cheek, stepped forward, his voice thick with frustration and urgency.

  "We were sent to gather intelligence," he said, eyes shifting around the room. "Aeliana’s orders,find out where the Dhavos patrols are weakest. Figure out their movements. Plan the next strike." He paused, swallowing hard, as though the words didn’t quite want to come out. "But we were ambushed. It happened fast. A patrol we didn’t see coming. They were on us before we could react."

  Aeliana’s gaze narrowed, her mind already racing through contingencies. She stepped forward, her voice calm but authoritative. "Where did they ambush you?"

  "In the ruins near the eastern ridge," another scout chimed in, a woman with dark braids, her voice shaking slightly with the adrenaline still coursing through her. "We had them in our sights. Thought we could get closer, get a good look at their numbers. Then out of nowhere, they appeared. Four of them, maybe five. They cut us off, and," She stopped, her voice trembling. "We lost twenty good men."

  The room fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in. The loss was significant, but even more pressing was the realization that the Dhavos forces were more prepared than they’d anticipated. Aeliana absorbed every detail, her eyes flicking from one scout to the next. She read the truth in their eyes,their words were raw, unpolished, but they spoke the truth.

  "They’re getting smarter," Aeliana murmured. "They know we’re watching them. And they’re adapting."

  A silence spread over the group. Everyone in the room understood the implication,this was no longer just about fighting. It was about outsmarting an enemy that was learning from every move they made. And the next strike would need to be more than a frontal assault.

  The tension in the air was palpable, but before Aeliana could speak again, a voice rang out from the back of the room, one that was both calm and unyielding.

  "We can’t let them take the prisoners."

  It was Elias. He had been standing quietly in the corner of the room, listening carefully. His words weren’t a question, but a statement,no frills, no pleasantries, just a clear directive.

  Aeliana glanced toward him, her gaze sharp. She had come to rely on his expertise, but it was moments like this that made her feel unsettled. He wasn’t a part of their world, and yet, here he was, speaking like he was the one with the answers.

  "Any thoughts on how we handle this?" Aeliana asked, her tone a mix of challenge and curiosity.

  The room was suddenly filled with murmurs as others began to argue. Some shouted for an all-out assault,storm the mine and take back the prisoners with force, they said. It was a tempting solution, driven by the anger and frustration of losing so many men, but Aeliana knew better.

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  She raised a hand to silence the room.

  "Elias," she said, her voice firm. "You have a solution?"

  Elias didn’t flinch at her tone. "I’ll need the layout of the mine."

  Aeliana blinked, surprised by the simplicity of his request. "What for?"

  He met her gaze steadily. "I’ll need to find a way in. I don’t want to do this the way you’ve done it before,charging in headfirst. That’s how people die."

  The room fell quiet. They were all familiar with the risks of a direct assault. But Elias wasn’t offering a standard strategy.

  He was offering something else.

  Aeliana nodded, motioning for someone to hand him the map. One of the scouts stepped forward with a rolled parchment. Elias took it, unfurling it quickly, his eyes scanning the layout with a practiced precision.

  "I’m going to need time," he said, already lost in the map. "A few hours. I’ll work through it, figure out the best way to infiltrate. If we rush in, we’ll be walking straight into a trap. And I’m not willing to risk more lives."

  Without another word, he turned and left the room, retreating to his shop.

  Hours passed. The sounds of the night were muffled by the thick walls of the workshop, but Elias remained inside, consumed with his work. He didn’t come out. Not once.

  Aeliana paced the room outside, her mind racing with possibilities. She knew Elias wasn’t the type to act without reason, but his methods were strange,unpredictable. She couldn’t deny the effectiveness of his help, but something about him unsettled her. There was an aura of detachment to him, an enigmatic quality she couldn’t crack.

  When she could no longer wait, Aeliana made her way toward the workshop. As she stepped inside, she found him bent over a workbench, his hands steady and confident as he worked.

  "I’ve got what you need," he said, barely looking up from the tools in front of him. "Ten devices. They’ll get you in."

  Aeliana stepped closer, her curiosity piqued. "What are these?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

  Elias lifted one of the devices, handing it to her. It was small, compact, and seemed almost too simple. But there was something in the way it hummed in her hand that told her it was far from ordinary.

  "They’re underwater breathing devices. They’ll allow your team to infiltrate the mine through a hidden entrance. I’ve modified them to fit the specific environment you’ll be entering," Elias explained, his voice calm, authoritative. "They’ll allow you to stay underwater for up to two hours. Quiet, stealthy. No one will know you’re there until it’s too late."

  Aeliana stared at him, her mind struggling to catch up. "The ocean?" she asked, barely able to comprehend. "We don’t... we don’t go in the water."

  Elias smiled, though there was no humor in it. "Well, seems like you’ll have to start. It’s the only way."

  Aeliana’s heart skipped a beat as she registered his words. She had never ventured beyond the shore, and now, the very idea of crossing into the depths of the ocean,something her people had long avoided,sent a chill through her.

  Elias, sensing her hesitation, stepped closer. He took her hand,unexpected, firm,and led her to a nearby chair. His touch sent a sudden warmth through her, and though she tried to pull away, she found herself sitting.

  He sat across from her, his eyes focused on the device in her hand. "You have a choice here, Aeliana. If you want to save your people, you need to think outside the box. And sometimes, that means doing things you never thought you could do."

  The air between them felt charged, the closeness palpable. Aeliana’s pulse quickened, and she struggled to keep her composure. She wasn’t used to this kind of proximity, and the way Elias spoke,so sure, so knowledgeable,unnerved her.

  But then, her thoughts scattered, and she pushed herself to her feet, brushing off the feeling. She cleared her throat, trying to regain control. "That’s... very interesting," she stammered. "I’m sure you know exactly what you’re doing. So, how do you propose we proceed?"

  Elias gave a knowing grin. "Give me ten of your best warriors. I’ll teach them. Back on my world, I was in the Marines."

  "Marines?" Aeliana asked, the word foreign to her.

  "Yeah, it’s a special group of soldiers trained for the harshest environments. We infiltrated enemy bases under the cover of night, moving undetected. And that’s what we’ll do now. We’ll move fast, strike hard, and get your people out without anyone knowing we were ever there."

  Aeliana stood there, staring at him. A feeling she couldn’t quite place fluttered in her chest. He wasn’t just some outsider,he was one of them now. And she needed to trust him. More than that, she realized, she had to.

  "All right," she said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind inside her. "Let’s do it."

  The plan was set.

  With Elias’s guidance, the Khesteri would finally have the advantage they’d been desperately searching for. And with Aeliana by his side, Elias knew that whatever came next, they’d face it together.

  The cold water felt foreign, like an unwelcome presence, but Elias had long ago learned to ignore the discomforts of his environment. He'd been in worse places,darker places. This was nothing. Just a temporary inconvenience.

  He led the Khesteri warriors silently through the night, the underwater breathing apparatus strapped tightly to their backs. They moved like shadows, each step calculated, each breath a whisper. The sea was unfamiliar to them; they had no love for it, no skill in navigating it. But Elias? He was born for this. His boots barely made a ripple as he moved, the soldiers following his lead, copying his fluid movements as they swam toward the entrance of the mine.

  The mine was a maze, but Elias had the layout burned into his mind. He had studied it when they had gotten the map. The corridors twisted in all directions, and without the right knowledge, it could easily become a death trap. But Elias was ready.

  "Stay sharp," he murmured, the faintest trace of authority in his voice. His eyes scanned the darkened underwater passage ahead. The warriors were nervous but managed to suppress it. "We don't have time to get lost."

  As they breached the water's surface and crept toward the mine entrance, Elias checked his equipment and glanced at his team. Ten warriors. They were nervous, but they trusted him. He could feel the tension in their movements, even as they tried to remain calm.

  "Move fast. Move quiet," he whispered again. "No noise, no mistakes."

  The warriors nodded in silence, their faces grim beneath their gear. They had seen the importance of this mission. There was no turning back.

  Once inside the mine, the oppressive darkness of the stone walls swallowed them. The faint hum of a generator buzzed somewhere deeper inside, the only indication that they had entered an active facility. Elias led the group with careful precision, his sharp instincts guiding him, his training putting everything in its place.

  "Five of you take the right side," he ordered, signaling the first half of the squad. "The rest with me. We’re moving fast. If you find anyone, free them. Let them join the mission. No time to waste."

  The soldiers nodded in unison, splitting into two groups. The sound of their footsteps echoed softly in the long, winding corridors, but Elias was more concerned with what lay ahead. His eyes stayed focused, scanning every corner. They had to move like ghosts,like shadows slipping through the dark.

  And then he heard them.

  The quiet crackle of a fire.

  Three soldiers by a low flame, their tired eyes fixed on it. They were sitting, too exhausted to notice the approaching danger.

  Elias motioned for the group to stop and waited, his breath barely audible. His fingers tightened around the handle of his knife, ready. With a nod, they moved. Like a single entity, they approached in perfect synchronization, silent and deadly.

  At the count of three, Elias struck. His knife slid through the first guard’s throat with barely a sound. The soldier’s eyes widened in surprise, but no scream left his lips. His body slumped to the ground. The others barely had time to react before the second guard was taken out in a similar, silent fashion.

  The last soldier tried to grab his rifle, but it was too late. Elias was on him before he could raise his weapon, a swift strike to the throat followed by a quick motion that left him lifeless on the cold stone floor.

  “Clear,” Elias whispered, his voice low.

  One of the warriors moved toward the cage in the corner, unlocking the mechanism with swift precision. Inside, about ten Khesteri soldiers were huddled, their eyes hollow from captivity. They had been waiting for this moment, and now it was here.

  "Quiet," Elias gestured urgently to the freed prisoners. "Stay with us. We move fast."

  As they filed out of the cage, Elias looked over at his team. The mission was proceeding smoothly, but he knew better than to get complacent. They had to keep moving.

  Elias led them deeper into the mine, his mind sharp, constantly alert. They had no idea how many enemy soldiers were inside. It was too risky to get caught now. He moved like a predator, knowing that every corner could hide danger.

  Suddenly, faint voices echoed down the corridor. A group of soldiers were coming. Elias signaled for everyone to stop and crouch in the shadows, pressing themselves into the cold stone walls.

  He crept closer to hear more clearly. The voices grew louder.

  "No… it’s almost time," one of them was saying. "The final assault is coming. Dhavos said we're to ready the forces,strike at the last bastion of resistance."

  The second voice laughed, deep and guttural. "This is it. We break them. With this, we take everything."

  Elias’ heart skipped a beat. Dhavos. The one they had all feared. The one who had been pulling the strings from the shadows.

  The soldiers kept talking, oblivious to the silent figures standing just out of their sight.

  "Once we take the stronghold, this will all be over," one of the soldiers said with a sense of finality.

  Elias froze. This was far worse than he had thought. Not only were they not prepared,they were already planning a major assault, a final push against Aeliana’s forces. If they attacked now, it could be disastrous.

  He needed to get back to Aeliana. Fast.

  But there was no time to dwell on it. He had to act.

  Without a sound, he withdrew back into the shadows. His team followed his lead, keeping their movements swift and quiet. They needed to get back to their point of extraction. They needed to move fast before the enemy realized they were there.

  But Elias’ mind raced. He had to warn Aeliana. He had to find a way to stop the attack.

  Elias remained frozen, hidden in the shadows, his breath steady, his heart pounding. The voices grew louder, the singing and laughter of the soldiers in the mess hall filling the air. He had to act, but for a moment, he stood motionless, processing the bombshell that Dhavos had just dropped.

  "We are definitely not prepared."

  His mind raced. The final assault on Aeliana's people? The whole kingdom was in jeopardy, and they had no idea that Dhavos was already making his move. The operation to free the Khesteri prisoners had just become far more complicated.

  The soldiers in the mess room were completely unaware of his presence, too wrapped up in their celebration. He needed to inform Aeliana immediately, but any misstep now would bring disaster.

  Without wasting a second more, Elias gestured for his team to keep their positions. They were waiting silently, watching the prisoners, now freed and huddling in the shadows, eyes wide with shock and confusion. They were safe for now, but Elias knew the real danger was just beyond this operation.

  His hand went to his communication device, and he whispered into it.

  "Aeliana, it’s worse than we thought. Dhavos is already making plans for an assault. He thinks he’s about to take everything."

  There was a brief static crackle before Aeliana’s voice came through. It was sharp, controlled. "What do you mean? Are you sure?"

  He didn’t have the time to explain fully, but he couldn’t hold back the urgency in his voice. "They're planning a final assault on your stronghold. It’s happening sooner than we thought. Get your forces ready. We need to move faster."

  Elias paused, letting that information sink in. Then, as if to reinforce his message, he added, "We’re almost done here, but we need to act fast. I’ll signal when the prisoners are secure."

  The Shift to the Rescue:

  Elias pulled his team back into the corridors, moving faster now, aware that time was against them. The glow of the mess room had faded behind him, and the prisoners were still crouching in the dark, whispering among themselves. Some of the freed Khesteri men had been in the mine for weeks, others for months,they were all in various stages of disorientation, their faces haggard from lack of food and the grueling work.

  "Get them moving," Elias commanded. "Tell them to stay low. Don’t make a sound. We don’t need another surprise."

  One of the warriors, a younger man, nodded and began ushering the prisoners into a single file, slowly leading them back down the dark corridor. Elias continued to monitor their progress while keeping an ear out for any other sounds.

  As he crept down the dark hallway, he couldn’t shake the image of Dhavos in the mess hall. He could see the man, smiling, shaking hands with his soldiers. He could hear his voice: "We are at the precipice of something great."

  Elias tightened his grip on his knife. He didn’t know how far the enemy’s plans had gone, but he knew that tonight had to be the turning point. If they didn’t strike back at Dhavos soon, there would be no kingdom left to save.

  After navigating a few more corridors, Elias reached the point where he could send the group of prisoners off toward the exit. He turned to one of his warriors, signaling him to lead them out and stay in contact. "Take them through the rear. Do not engage any more guards unless absolutely necessary. I’ll meet you at the rendezvous point."

  The warrior nodded, and Elias watched as they slipped into the shadows.

  For a moment, Elias just stood there, his mind racing. This wasn’t over. They were only halfway through their mission, and the real challenge was coming. He had to rejoin Aeliana, but before he could even make a move, he heard something. Faint at first, then louder.

  Voices. More soldiers, moving in his direction.

  "Stay hidden," Elias hissed to the remaining soldiers. "Stay quiet."

  He slipped into the nearest shadow, crouching low, eyes scanning for a way out. His senses were heightened, every noise amplified in the silence of the mine. His breath was shallow, his pulse pounding in his ears.

  The voices grew louder, and then,a figure appeared.

  It was a lone guard, moving through the corridor with a torch. Elias waited, letting the figure approach, his breathing calm despite the pressure. When the guard was within reach, Elias struck. A swift, calculated move,he knocked the guard unconscious, his hand clamping over the man's mouth before a sound could escape.

  Elias dragged the guard’s body into the shadows and left him there, moving quickly toward the rendezvous point. He couldn’t afford to waste time now. Aeliana had to know.

  Elias found Aeliana waiting at the rendezvous point. Her posture was tense, her brow furrowed in thought. When she saw him, she didn’t say a word,she didn’t need to. There was an understanding between them now, one forged in shared purpose.

  "The prisoners are safe," Elias said, his voice low. "But we’ve got bigger problems."

  Aeliana didn’t flinch. "Tell me everything."

  He quickly relayed what he had overheard, the celebration, the looming assault, and the urgency of their situation. Aeliana was silent for a moment, processing.

  "We need to strike fast," she said finally, her voice steady. "We can't let them get to the stronghold first."

  Elias nodded, his thoughts already turning to their next steps. He had been in enough situations like this to know how things could spiral. There was no more time for hesitation.

  "Tomorrow, we move. We hit them where it hurts," he said, his eyes locking onto hers. "But first, we prepare. You get your people ready, and I’ll make sure we have everything we need to strike them down."

  Aeliana gave him a small, knowing nod. "We’ll be ready. And so will you."

  There was something in her gaze now,something more than duty. Elias had seen it in her before, and it was clear that she wasn’t just trusting him with the mission anymore. There was something else forming between them, something real.

  The war was far from over, but for the first time, Elias felt that they might just have a chance.