The trade was over, and the soldiers of the Devotion Empire were returning to camp.
The sound of horns echoed in the distance, signalling their arrival. Daniel, standing near the entrance, straightened his back and raised his hand in salute. His face remained calm, but there was a quiet tension in the air, as if he already knew what awaited them.
When the soldiers entered the camp. There were a few dead bodies, though not many, but the sight of the injured was overwhelming. It was clear that the ambush had taken a heavy toll.
Roy stood silently among the soldiers, his gaze sweeping over the camp. His injuries were minor compared to some of the others.
Daniel, as always, showed no sign of surprise. It was as if he had anticipated this all along. He turned to Yuri, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What happened?"
Yuri gave a quiet sigh. "A third party has entered. We weren't expecting it."
Daniel's eyebrows rose in shock. "A third party? Who was it? "
Yuri didn't respond immediately. His gaze shifted to the horizon as if he were contemplating something deeper. "Actually, I have an idea who's behind it. They were well-prepared. The attack was meant to create confusion, and it did just that."
Daniel's shock was clear now. "So, it wasn't just the Devotion forces and the Drayton army after all."
Yuri nodded, his face hardening. "No. We've been played. There are hidden forces at work."
After a pause, Daniel looked around at the soldiers. "Take a day off. Rest and recover. After tomorrow you get back to the program." Then he looked at Yuri. "If you're not tired, join me in my office to discuss this."
Yuri replied, "I'll see you there."
With that, the soldiers began to regroup, helping each other with their wounds, checking for supplies, and tending to the fallen. Roy, Andrew, Stephanie, and Crimzo found themselves in the same task group, helping with various tasks to ensure the camp was settled.
Sophia was there when she saw Roy's hand. She rushed over and asked, "Roy, what happened to your hand? Are you okay?" "Roy, what happened to your hand? Are you okay?"
"Don't worry. It's nothing. Please take care of the major injuries first." He replied with a small smile.
Sophia's face clearly showed her concern. She nodded, then went to help the injured soldiers.
As evening approached, Roy headed to his room. He needed a cold shower to relieve his aching muscles, and he tied a plastic bag over his injured hand to keep the water from reaching it. The water was cold, but it helped ease the pain of the battle.
He stood there for a moment, letting the cold wash over him, his mind drifting back to everything that had happened during the fight. He could still feel the tension, the quick movements of the battle, the sound of arrows whizzing by.
When he finally finished, he dressed in a fresh set of clothes and went to the outside where Andrew and Sophia were already sitting. They were seated beside a crackling fire, the warmth from the flames pushing back the evening chill.
The camp was quiet now, with most of the soldiers settling into their own routines after the long, exhausting day.
Sophia, noticing Roy's arrival, gave him a smile. "Tomorrow, Roy, I will take care of your hand. I'll change your bandages. You've got some healing to do."
Roy nodded, sitting down beside her. "I'll leave it to you then."
He leaned back, letting the light from the fire flicker across his face as he relaxed for the first time that day.
A few moments later, Crimzo walked over carrying a mug and smiling. "Mind if I join you?"
Andrew raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Sure. We were just talking about how well we work together in the trade to Sophia."
Crimzo chuckled, took a seat, and settled in next to Andrew. "I've been keeping an eye on you all."
Sophia smiled slightly, her tone playful. "Glad to know they've earned your approval, Crimzo."
He raised his mug. "I had fun with you guys. I've been meaning to say it, but I'm glad to be part of this."
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Is this your way of saying you've decided?"
Crimzo shrugged, but there was a small smile on his face. "Yeah. I'll join you."
Andrew nodded approvingly. "You won't regret it trust me."
Roy, as always, remained silent, but there was no objection from him.
Crimzo glanced at Roy and smirked. "Not even a comment? I thought you'd at least say something."
Roy looked at him. "Thank you for helping me there."
Crimzo chuckled. "Oh, that. Never mind."
Suddenly, Stephanie appeared and walked toward them. Everyone looked at her. She started the conversation. "Guys, I'd like to say that I'm glad I fought with you today."
We nodded, and then Sophia stood up and smiled. "Stephanie, I really want to thank you for taking care of my friends."
Stephanie put a hand on her shoulder. "It's nothing; that's what we're here for."
Then Sophia held her hand. "You can sit with us if you want."
Stephanie looked a little shy and hesitated. Then, Roy said, "Don't hesitate. Thank you for taking care of my arm."
She sat down and looked at him. "You're welcome. If you want, I can take care of it until it gets better."
Roy replied. "Sophia will take care of it, so don't worry. But if anything happens, I'll consider you. Thank you."
He looked at the fire again, the silence that followed was comfortable, the kind that only comes after a day of hard work. The sky outside darkened further, and the stars sparkled.