🔥 Chapter 11 — Gathering Intel
The northern highlands lay scarred and smoldering after the duel with the first new general. Ice and stone were shattered, fires still flickered among the ruins, and the wind carried the faint scent of ozone and ember. Kael's flames coiled gently along his arms, Ember pulsing faintly as if resting, but still alert.
Rhyne scanned the horizon, eyes sharp. "That general was only the first. The King's other forces are already moving. We can't stay here. We need information—intelligence about what he's planning next."
Kael nodded, wiping soot from his brow. "I felt the Ember's power surge in the fight. It warned me about hidden techniques and weaknesses. If we can use that insight, maybe we can anticipate the King's next moves."
Rhyne led the way to a small village on the outskirts of the highlands, one that had survived the latest attacks. The villagers were wary, eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. Kael stepped forward, letting his Ember flicker softly—a subtle, comforting glow that reassured them.
"We defeated one of the King's generals," Kael said. "But there are more. We need your help to track them, to understand where they're headed."
An elder stepped forward, trembling. "We saw movements in the south… strange soldiers, cloaked in black, traveling in formation. They avoided villages, but the forests and mountains trembled under their passage."
Rhyne nodded. "That's the information we need. If we can track their path, we might intercept the next general before he reaches the highlands."
Kael's gaze hardened. "We'll need speed, precision, and strategy. The Ember can guide me in battle, but planning ahead… that's on us."
The villagers offered food, maps, and warnings about the terrain. Kael studied the maps, Ember pulsing with energy as he traced potential paths. "We can set up ambushes, gather reinforcements… but we have to strike before the King consolidates his forces."
Rhyne looked at Kael, determination in his eyes. "Then we prepare. The King thinks he's winning, but we've proven we can fight back—and next time, we'll be ready."
Kael's flames flared, bright and steady. "The war is far from over. But with every battle, every victory, the Ember grows—and so do we."
The northern highlands trembled again—not from battle this time, but from the promise of the next fight.