Chio and Nevala traveled through the woods for almost four and a half days before finally stumbling across what they had set out to find. A large wooden wall surrounded a small town tucked away between a grove.

  “Hult, what business do you have in the Felwind clan?” A man clad in leather armor and holding a spear asked.

  “We are refugees fleeing from the Ashrend clan,” Nevala said with a slight bow.

  The guard whispered something to his companion, who nodded and ran off.

  “Please wait here. Someone will be along in a moment to hear your story.”

  They complied, waiting outside the gate until a chubby man clad in leather armor appeared.

  “So, you say you're refugees from the Ashrend clan? Can you tell me what happened?”

  Chio and Nevala spent the next 20 minutes explaining the situation and story to the man, purposefully leaving out which side they had been on.

  “Hmm, we will send a few scouts to confirm your story. For now, you can wait inside the bunkhouse next to the gate.”

  They nodded and followed the man to the building. It was a smaller shack, just big enough to hold six beds.

  “Make yourself comfortable and do not leave until we say you can.”

  “Thank you,” Nevala said with a slight bow.

  “Don’t mention it.” The chubby man closed the door and left them alone.

  “So, what do you think will happen with the clan now?”

  “I can’t say for sure, but if half the stories Ren told me about his father are true, it's going to be a terrible place for anyone who isn’t strong.”

  “I hope Kai and my parents are ok.”

  “So do I.”

  They sat and chatted, losing track of time. A boom like a falling meteor echoed from outside. Chio shot to his feet and ran to the door, pulling it open. A commotion had picked up around the gate where a small creature now sat.

  “I don’t care about your protocol, go and get your clan elder!” he heard a woman shout.

  He peeked out to get a better look, and his heart sank. Standing at the front gate, still clad in her war attire, was Vaelora.

  Chio slammed the door, pushing his weight against it like a makeshift bar.

  “Shit,” he cursed.

  “What's wrong? Nevala asked, running over.

  “The silver viper is here!”

  Her eyes went wide with panic. “Why is she here?”

  “I don’t know.” Thoughts raced through Chio’s mind. Is she hunting us? Does that mean Ren’s family lost? He opened the door again and watched the unfolding scene. He noticed something he hadn’t before.

  “Let me see.” Nevala joined him at the doorway and looked out at Vaelora.

  Vaelora shouted. “The Ashrend and Stonewright clans have already fallen, and you will be next if you don’t get me your god's damned elder!”

  “He is on his way, ma’am. Now, please calm down and deactivate your aura while you wait,” the chubby man from before said.

  Vaelora let out a huff, but did as she was asked.

  A few minutes later, a smaller old man dressed in a ceremonial robe walked towards the commotion.

  “Ah, Vaelora, what has it been 20 years?”

  “Hello, elder Felwind,” she responded with a bow and complete change of demeanor.

  “So, what happened to your clan, and where is your father?”

  Vaelora explained the story with the elder nodding along.

  “I see. I am sorry for your loss. You are welcome to stay with us as long as you need.”

  “Thank you for the kind offer, elder, but I came to warn you to flee. The man I told you about has far too much power regarding a large-scale conflict.”

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  “Hmm, I will meet with my advisers for now. I'm sure you could use some rest. William, please show her to the bunkhouse.”

  “Yes, sir,” the chubby man said with a salute. “Please follow me, ma’am. A few of your other clansmen are also resting at the monument.”

  “Oh? Did you happen to get their names?”

  “I did not.”

  “No worries, I will ask them when I see them.”

  Chio could have sworn his heart stopped right there and then. He wanted to grab Nevala and run, but before his body would respond, Vaelora and William were already at the entrance. He shrank back as the silver viper fully entered the building.

  Her eyes narrowed as she laid her eyes upon Chio and then Nevala. She clenched her spear as blood lust radiated off of her. “Did Draven send you here?”

  “N-No M-Ma’am,” Chio stammered, falling to his knees as her aura overwhelmed him.

  “Then why are you here?”

  “W-We fled from the fight after it started. W-What Draven did was wrong, and we did not want to have anything to do with him,” Nevala said between strained breaths.

  Vaelora looked at them with pitiless eyes before sighing and deactivating her aura. “If what you say is true, prove it by helping me save these people from Draven's tyranny.”

  “We will. Just tell us what you need, and we will do it,” Chio said, panting.

  “Good.”

  The three former members of the Ashrend clan spent the next two days trying to convince the members of the Felwind clan to leave before the Elborns arrived, but to no avail.

  Chio sighed as he walked back to the bunkhouse from an attempt to win over people in the market, but he had little success. At least I could complete my secondary goal, he thought with a grin, holding an innately carved wooden box. He cracked the lid slightly for the 100th time, looking closely at the sparkling necklace contained within. His heart pounded as he thought about what would come next. Tonight would be the night he would ask Nevala to marry him.

  “Now I know it's sudden and we have only been together for a few months, but I can’t think of anyone else I would rather spend my life with.

  Nevala took a step back, covering her mouth. “Chio I-”

  He pulled the jewelry box from a pouch on his belt. “Nevala will you-”

  “Yes!” Nevala screamed, diving onto Chio and wrapping him in her arms.

  He returned the gesture as his heart threatened to stop for the third time in the last few days.

  “Congratulations!” Vaelora called from the entrance of the bunkhouse.

  Chio and Nevala grinned at her. “Thanks!”

  She smiled at the couple as thoughts of her daughter came to mind. Im going to end this damn war before she returns. None of them should have to deal with this while still young. “Let's go grab a drink to celebrate. My treat.”

  They continued convincing the clan members to leave the following day, but no one would listen. When noon hit, their worst fears came true. A large army led by Draven appeared before the village gate.

  “I wish to meet with your elder!” he shouted over the wall.

  “Don’t go out there. They are just going to kill you if you do, just like the Stonewright elder,” Vaelora said.

  The Felwind elder let out a long sigh. “Everyone except for me, Vaelora, and William should run while we buy you time.”

  Vaelora nodded in agreement.

  “Are you sure we couldn’t help?” Nevala asked.

  Vaelora shook her head. “You two still have a long life ahead of you. No reason to throw it away here.”

  “Ok, but please be safe.”

  Vaelora nodded with a smirk as golden wings sprouted from her back. “I have no intentions of dying here.”

  Chio and Nevala followed the rest of the villagers as they escaped through a back entrance and into the forest. Or that should have been the plan, but a horrific scene unfolded before their eyes as they left. Draven’s forces had already encircled the camp and were slaughtering anyone who tried to make a break for it.

  “Shit,” Chio muttered, observing the situation. He watched a group form and attempt to push through the barrier.

  They were making progress, and Chio gritted his teeth before jumping in to help. Arrows flew from behind him as Nevala provided cover for his charge. He slammed into the encirclement, activated his wind slash, and cleaved a path. A few people seized the opportunity and ran into the woods before the opportunity closed once again.

  As several warriors surrounded him, Chio fended off a flurry of attacks from all sides. Keeping his head and muttering a small apology, he activated his whirlwind skill, quickly turning his splints into corpses. He winced at the blood dripping off his sword, but now was no time to dwell on it.

  “Come on!” he yelled, clashing with two more soldiers who tried to close the path. People funneled out behind him as he fended off the two men. They were much more skilled than he was when it came to sword fighting, but his weapon more than made up for that with its length.

  An arrow struck one of the soldiers in the neck, giving him enough time to finish the man off and, with a quick stab at range, send the other one to join him.

  “Let’s go!” he shouted, waving for Nevala to follow him.

  They ran through the forest, following the pack of fleeing people. Chio helped pick up an injured man with a few others and carried him as they continued forward. They did not stop until they were several miles away and sure that they were not being followed. At that point, they took a small break and treated the wounded to the best of their abilities before moving out again.

  Almost half a day into their journey, Vaelora returned with a large jagged scar reaching from her forehead down to her cheek, and she was carrying the unconscious elder.

  “What happened?” Chio asked.

  “The bastard had some skill that made William turn on us. I was forced to strike him down as soon as he did, but took a bad wound in return. He just had to use frost magic,” she sighed.

  They traveled for the better part of a week before finally finding a spot to settle. When they did, they began sending out hunting parties, attempting to gain as many levels as possible from the increased rates the hordes offered.

  It got more and more dangerous every time, however, as members of the encampment slowly accumulated injuries or lost their lives. A larger party was formed, with Vaelora accompanying them to ensure nothing went wrong. This continued for a few weeks as members slowly grew in power and the hunting party veteran members adopted masks in honor of the one Vaelora had begun wearing since receiving her injury.

  Chio and Nevala had a proper wedding during this time, and the day before, he met up with Ray and Erith. She shared a piece of information with him that simultaneously sent him into an overwhelming joy and absolute panic.

  He was going to be a father.

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