Shroud Arcanum

As the moon hung high in the night sky, the gates of Ashenfall City creaked open, revealing a lone truck rumbling forward, seemingly filled with the day's waste.

Within the confines of the dimly lit cabin, Ensign Caelum focused intently on the road, maneuvering the truck smoothly away from the city walls. Once they'd reached a safe distance, his voice broke the silence in a soft whisper, "We're clear."

Suddenly, a slight shuffling was heard from the rear as figures began to emerge. Liam, Alric, Irys, Zalya, and Liora came into view. Still trying to make sense of the unfolding events, Liam turned to Zalya. "If you had this advanced stealth device, why didn't we use it during our confrontation with the titan?"

Zalya shot him an exasperated look, "That's precisely why I was so frustrated, when you made that lone dash towards the titan."

Shaking his head, Liam muttered, "Fair point."

Eager to focus on the mission ahead, Alric interjected, "So, we're splitting up next, right?"

Zalya nodded, mapping out the plan, "Exactly,Liam, Irys, and I will head towards the designated location to set up traps, aiming to delay the approaching battalion. Meanwhile, Liora, Caelum, and you, Alric, will head straight to Duskdale village. Your goal is to persuade the villagers and prepare them for an evacuation. Once our task with the traps is complete, we'll rendezvous with you all in the village."

Liora's gaze settled on Zalya with a mix of resentment, "Let's be clear," she began, her voice taut, "I'm here under duress. I was practically blackmailed into this. You'd better ensure that no harm comes my way because of this little escapade. And once we're done, I expect the antidote immediately."

Zalya met Liora's fierce gaze without flinching. Her voice remained composed, "I understand your concerns, Liora. I assure you, if any unforeseen complications arise from this operation, we will take full responsibility. Our goal is the same, after all."

Liora narrowed her eyes, "Just ensure that antidote is handed to me, once our objectives are met."

With a nod, Zalya responded, "You have my word."

Watching the interaction between Zalya and Liora, memories flashed before Liam's eyes.

A few hours earlier, at the Ashenfall military base, Zalya had approached Liora. "You're really not going to change your mind?" she asked.

Liora sighed heavily, "I told you, if you can get the General on board, I'm in. But without his backing, it's mutiny. Do you comprehend the gravity of that? We could be executed."

Understanding her concerns, Zalya replied, "I get it. I just... I can't stand by and watch innocent people die when we could intervene." She paused, sitting down beside Liora and pulling out some snacks, "You want some?" she offered, extending the snack.

Liora glanced at it, her mind momentarily distracted from their dire conversation. "It's not that I don't care," she admitted. "But we're soldiers, Zalya. Orders are orders." After a brief pause, trying to shift the topic, she asked, "How are Liam and Irys?"

Zalya nodded, taking a bite of the snack, "They are recovering well." ｂｅ𝚍𝚗ｏｖｅ𝚕．𝚗𝚎𝚝

Liora took the snack, giving it a tentative bite, a mixture of flavors bursting in her mouth. "Isn't this from Duskdale village? When did you get these?"

Zalya smiled faintly, reminiscing, "I saw you indulging in them when we returned from our training. It piqued my interest, so I decided to buy some. Keep them stashed away for a moment just like this."

Liora, still chewing, agreed, "Yeah, the food from there is really something else..." Her words started to trail off, her vision blurring and her legs feeling weak beneath her. Panic gripped her as she collapsed to the ground, her hand reaching out to Zalya.

Zalya knelt by her side, uncapping a small vial containing a clear liquid. She gently tilted Liora's head, pouring the fluid into her mouth. It felt cool, reminiscent of pure spring water, and Liora felt some of her strength return, enough to prop herself up on her elbows, but her eyes betrayed her shock and fear.

"I'm sorry," Zalya murmured. " I know you want to help, so I will help by giving you the extra push. This," she motioned to the vial, "is just something to temporarily alleviate the symptoms. But it's also a poison. If you don't drink the antidote within 24 hours, it will be lethal."

Liora's gaze was filled with a mix of anger and disbelief. "Why would you do this?"

Zalya sighed, "You have the skills to try and counteract it, but I doubt you'll be able to do it. You could report me, but I think you know the consequences of that wouldn't be in your favor."

Regaining some of her strength, Liora focused on Zalya's violet eyes. Strangely, a wave of calm washed over her. Standing up, she frowned at Zalya, her voice tinged with bitterness. "You're quite the character, aren't you? Acting all noble and wanting to save the village, yet here you are, using such tactics. You're just as twisted as they are."

Zalya's gaze remained unfazed. "I want to save the village because I want to, not because it's some moral high ground. If being seen as crazy is what it takes to give them a fighting chance, then so be it."

Frustrated, Liora tried to channel her healing powers, attempting to reverse whatever Zalya had done to her. But something was off. Normally, her abilities responded intuitively, directing her body's life force to mend and heal. But now, her body seems to ignore her directive. Her eyes met Zalya's, and even amidst her circumstances, something about the depth in Zalya's gaze made her believe in her words.

A memory stirred in Liora's mind — baby Zail, the child she had named. Her heart clenched at the thought of the innocent lives at stake. Drawing a deep breath, she decided to cooperate with Zalya, at least for now.

Her internal compass reminded her that she didn't want to stand idly by while the village suffered. Torn between her sworn duty and a higher moral obligation, Zalya's coercive tactic seemed to tip the balance.