Dawn broke with a muted glow, barely piercing the dense canopy above Kaen's camp. The night's uneasy silence was shattered by the sharp crack of twigs snapping under hurried footsteps. Kaen's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword as Mira and Taron rose, alert and tense.
From the shadows emerged a figure cloaked in worn leathers, face obscured by a hood. "Kaen," the voice was low but urgent. "We don't have much time. There's been a betrayal."
Kaen's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
The stranger glanced around nervously before revealing a small, folded parchment. "One of your trusted allies has been feeding information to the enemy. The Flamespire's secrets have already been compromised."
Shock rippled through the group. Taron clenched his fists. "Who could turn on us now? After everything?"
Mira's gaze hardened. "We need to act fast before this betrayal destroys us from within."
Kaen felt the weight of responsibility press down harder than ever. The enemy was no longer just outside—they had found a way inside their circle.
"We hunt the traitor before they strike again," Kaen declared. "But more importantly, we must find out who benefits from this chaos. The Flamespire's power is far greater than we imagined, and it seems someone will do anything to control it—even betray their own."
As suspicion and tension crackled through the camp like wildfire, Kaen knew that the real battle was just beginning—one fought not only with steel and fire but with trust and deception.