With Gorvain's death, killing the remaining knights became a piece of cake.

  Fear crept into their movements when they saw their commander's broken body sprawled in the courtyard.

  One knight stumbled backward, his eyes wide behind his visor as he stared at his commander's broken body. Another turned to flee, only to meet Nox's jaws in the narrow alley.

  I was finishing the last few when movement caught the corner of my vision. Three figures in armor, approaching fast from the eastern street.

  More Drakmoor knights. I thought.

  My tendrils coiled, ready to strike. The figures broke into a run when they spotted me, weapons drawn. But as they drew closer, I relaxed as I realized who they were.

  "What kind of monster are you?" Alfern's voice cracked as he pointed his sword at me, the blade trembling slightly.

  "Stay back!" Mikel stepped forward, shield raised high. "This monster is dangerous."

  I stared at them for a moment, then understanding dawned. Of course they didn't recognize me.

  I slowly let Virel recede from my visible form.

  The three knights lowered their weapons slightly as I resumed my human appearance, though suspicion remained etched across their faces.

  "Vera?" Mikel's scarred face showed confusion mixed with relief. "Is that really you?"

  I nodded, my voice hoarse from the transformation. "It's me."

  Roslyn stepped forward cautiously. "What was that thing? That... armor?"

  "It's hard to explain." I glanced toward the bodies scattered around us. "We should move. There might be more coming."

  Alfern's eyes tracked the carnage. "Did you do all this?"

  I nodded.

  “Is that Gorvain?” Mikel's hand tightened on his sword hilt as he stared at the corpse a few meters away from me.”

  "Gorvain the Butcher?" Roslyn breathed. "You faced him?"

  "Yes.”

  "Impossible," Alfern whispered. "He's A-rank. One of Drakmoor's most dangerous—"

  "Gods above. It's really him."

  They gazed at me like a monster, which I ignored as I looked up toward the sky where Fei circled high above, Emil and Jorik still safe on his back.

  Fei caught my gaze and began his descent, massive wings cutting through the smoky air.

  "Emil's safe," I said as the knights turned to follow my gaze. "Jorik too. I got them out before the fighting started."

  Fei landed in the square with a powerful downstroke of his wings, scattering ash and debris. Jorik slid down first, then carefully lifted Emil from the eagle's back.

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  "Thank the gods," Roslyn breathed, hurrying toward them.

  But Emil didn't run to the knights as they might have expected. Instead, he walked directly to me, his small hand reaching up to touch my arm where Virel still pulsed beneath the skin.

  I knelt down to his level, my chest tight with emotions I couldn't name. "Are you all right?"

  He nodded, then glanced toward Gorvain's corpse. “Thank you for saving me. For saving us.”

  "We need to leave," Mikel said, returning from the courtyard.

  "Where?" Jorik asked, his arm protective around Emil's shoulders.

  "The Mistfall Mountains," Roslyn answered. "As planned. But we leave tonight, not tomorrow."

  "No." I said.

  They stopped.

  "What do you mean no?" Roslyn said to me, her voice sharp with anger.

  "I can't just let them destroy this town."

  "Vera," Mikel stepped forward, his scarred face grave. "I understand your feelings, but—"

  "Do you?" I cut him off. "These people took us in. Fed us. Gave Emil a place to heal. And now Drakmoor is burning their homes, killing their families." My hands clenched into fists. "I won't run and leave them to die."

  "It's too dangerous," Alfern said firmly. "We have the prince to think about. We can't risk his life for—"

  "For what? For innocent people?" The anger in my voice made all three knights step back. "Emil is safe with me. You've seen what I can do now."

  "Against a few dozen knights, yes," Roslyn said, her tone growing desperate. "But there's an entire army out there, Vera. Hundreds of them. Even with your... abilities... you can't face that alone."

  "I'm not asking you to stay," I said quietly. "Take Emil to the mountains. Keep him safe. That's your duty."

  "And leave you here to die?" Jorik's voice cracked. "After everything we've been through?"

  I turned to look at him, this young man who'd lost everything yet still found room in his heart for others. "You should go with them, Jorik. Emil needs you."

  "Emil needs you too," he shot back. "We all do."

  “There is no other choice.” I said resolutely.

  The silence stretched between us.

  Then Emil stepped forward. His small voice cut through the tension like a blade. As he gazed at me. It was eerie, as it was a gaze that was not supposed to be on the eyes of a four year old.

  "Vera…Promise me, you’ll come for me.”

  "Emil—" I started.

  "Promise," he insisted, his small fingers reaching out to grasp mine. "Promise you'll find me.”

  I knelt down and took his small hands in mine. "I promise. No matter what happens here, no matter how long it takes, I will find you."

  Emil smiled then nodded as he stepped back toward the knights. "Then we can go now."

  "But Vera, I can—"

  "Emil needs you more than I do." I kept my voice firm, final. "You're the only one I trust to look after him properly."

  Jorik's mouth opened to protest again, but I pressed on before he could speak.

  "And besides," I said, hating myself for the words even as they left my lips, "you're not strong enough. You'd only slow me down."

  The words hit him like a physical blow. I watched his face crumple, saw the hurt flash across his features before he managed to school his expression back to something neutral.

  Jorik fell silent.

  Oh how I hated myself at this moment.

  Here was someone who'd lost everything and still found the courage to want to stand beside me. Someone who'd shown nothing but loyalty and kindness since the moment we met. And I'd just told him he was worthless.

  The truth was, I was terrified of watching him die. Terrified of adding his blood to the growing list of people I'd failed to protect. It was easier to hurt his feelings than to risk his life.

  But that didn't make it fair.

  "I understand," Jorik said quietly. "You're right. “

  Emil stepped forward then, his young face troubled. "Jorik—"

  "It's fine, Emil," Jorik said, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Vera knows what she's doing."

  The lie sat heavy in the air between us. We all knew it wasn't fine. We all knew I'd chosen the cruelest way to keep him safe.

  Roslyn cleared her throat uncomfortably. "We should go. The longer we delay, the more dangerous this becomes for everyone."

  As they prepared to leave, Jorik paused and looked back at me one final time.

  "For what it's worth," he said softly, "I would have followed you into hell itself."

  The words were like a knife to my chest. "I know."

  "Take care of yourself, Vera."

  “You too…”

  Mikel raised his hand in a brief salute. "May the gods watch over you."

  Then they were riding away, four figures on horseback disappearing into the smoke and shadows beyond the town's edge. I watched until even the sound of hoofbeats faded, leaving me alone with the crackling flames and distant screams.

  Nox pressed closer to my side, a low whine escaping his throat. The wolf could sense my pain, even if he couldn't understand its source.

  "Come on," I whispered, feeling Virel stir beneath my skin, responding to my rising determination. "Let's finish this."