🔥 Chapter 36 — Aftermath and the King's Response
The eastern plains were eerily quiet at dawn. Kael and Rhyne had vanished into the forests after the ambush, leaving chaos behind. Smoke from scattered fires curled into the sky, and faint echoes of disoriented soldiers drifted through the trees.
Rhyne wiped his blade clean, eyes scanning the horizon. "The ambush worked, but we've only delayed them. The King will know soon, and he'll respond aggressively. We need to anticipate it."
Kael nodded, Ember threads flickering softly. "Yes. But this gives us something invaluable: time and intelligence. The eastern forces are fractured, their command compromised. That buys us days—maybe more—to plan our next move."
From the ridge, Kael traced residual magical currents flowing from the ruined hub and scattered patrols. "The King's forces are regrouping along multiple paths. He's already sending scouts to investigate the loss. If we track them, we can predict where he'll strike next—and prepare accordingly."
Rhyne frowned. "And if he anticipates us? He's cunning, and desperate. His retaliation could be brutal."
Kael's flames flared, Ember spiraling around him. "Then we stay mobile. We strike only when we have the advantage, and we never let him dictate the terms. We've already forced him into a defensive position in this region; now it's a matter of exploiting it."
In the distance, a faint surge of magical energy pulsed—the first sign of the King's reaction. Kael traced the flow, noting the concentration and patterns. "He's reacting. The surge is too focused for reconnaissance—it's a preemptive strike. He's planning an attack, but we know where and how. That's our leverage."
Rhyne exhaled sharply. "Then we prepare an ambush of our own. He won't see it coming."
Kael's eyes glowed, Ember coiling like a living storm. "Exactly. The King believes he's regained control of the east, but the hub's destruction and the ambush have shifted the battlefield. Now it's time to set the trap—and make him pay for underestimating us."
As the sun climbed higher, the eastern plains became a chessboard of strategy, energy, and shadows. Kael and Rhyne moved swiftly, preparing to exploit every weakness, knowing the King's response would determine the next phase of their war.