Thornton

  The day had already slipped into afternoon as we made our way back to the archives. The air was heavy with the weight of everything we had just learned, the promise of what was to come pressing down on us like a storm cloud ready to burst. But still, we held onto something—a flicker of hope that we hadn't lost everything.

  As we approached the familiar structure, we could see Emberes, Lane, and Cole waiting for us, their faces marked with fatigue, but there was something else in their eyes now—something brighter. They saw us coming and stood, ready to hear what we had learned. I could feel their anticipation before they spoke, their quiet confidence almost palpable in the air.

  Emberes, his expression softer than I'd seen in days, stepped forward. "What happened?" His voice was steady, but there was a question beneath it, a hunger for answers.

  I could feel the bond between us grow as Hue, Jade, and I shared everything we had learned in the shed—about the ancient being, the demons, the King's power, and what lay ahead. It was a lot to take in, but I could see the understanding in their eyes, the resolve building. They didn't flinch at the thought of training for five years. We all knew the stakes were high, and if the King was as strong as the first, we couldn't afford to wait that long.

  Lane was the first to speak. "Five years is too long. We can't wait that long. We need to be ready sooner."

  I nodded, already thinking the same thing. "If the ancient being is right, and the King will think we're coming for him directly, we need to prepare in secret, faster. We'll train harder, faster, and we'll take that time away from him."

  Cole stepped forward, eyes sharp. "Where will we go?"

  Hue answered, his voice firm with a determination that I admired. "The Prest Kingdom. We go there. It's the safest route. The King there is peaceful, and I am already close with him. It's the perfect place for us to train without interference."

  There was a moment of silence as we all let the idea settle in. The Prest Kingdom. It felt like the right choice. It was a kingdom where we wouldn't be hunted, where we could grow stronger without the looming shadow of King Belfour.

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  Jade spoke next, her voice quiet but resolute. "We'll make sure we're ready. We'll train as hard as we can. I won't let the King take anyone else from us."

  I could feel the weight of her words, her pain echoing in my chest. But I also felt a fire, something I hadn't felt in a while—a drive to do whatever it took to protect the people we loved, and to avenge the ones we had lost.

  "We need to honor the dead," Hue said softly, his voice thoughtful. "The Canu Village... they gave their lives. We should remember them."

  I nodded, feeling the weight of the loss press in on me. Emberes had been right about that. The villagers had fought bravely, and they deserved to be remembered.

  We made our way to the edge of the village where the ruins of Canu still lay, scorched and broken. It was quiet now, too quiet. But as we stood there, we all knew what we needed to do.

  Without a word, I pulled out a lantern, its flame flickering softly in the dying light of the day. The others followed suit, each of us holding one for the fallen. The light reflected off the charred remnants of the village, casting shadows that seemed to dance with memories.

  We raised our lanterns high, and for a moment, we stood in silence, honoring those who had died for our freedom. The village had fallen, but its spirit remained in the flicker of our flames.

  Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of all the faces, the families, the lives that had been lost. Emberes stood beside me, and I saw the same sorrow in his eyes. Lane and Cole stood not far behind, their faces shadowed, but their respect for the fallen unmistakable.

  Jade's hand brushed mine, and I squeezed her fingers, a silent promise passing between us.

  Hue cleared his throat and spoke softly. "We'll return one day. We'll rebuild this place. And we'll make sure the Canu name is never forgotten."

  Emberes nodded slowly, then looked at all of us. "I have an idea. The Elders are gone, but there's no reason the six of us can't be the new ones. We'll rebuild this village, make it stronger, and ensure that we carry on their legacy when the time is right."

  I looked at each of them—Hue, Jade, Emberes, Lane, and Cole—and I knew that they were right. The Canu Village would rise again. But that would take time, and we needed to be strong for it to happen.

  After a moment, I lowered my lantern, and one by one, the others did the same. The flame still flickered softly in the dark, its light representing everything we had left—the courage, the love, the memories—and everything we would fight for in the days to come.

  "We'll make it through," I said, my voice steady. "We'll train, and we'll grow stronger. We'll make sure that when we finally face the King, we won't just be ready—we'll be unstoppable."

  The others nodded in agreement, each of us feeling the weight of the promise we were making to one another.

  Hue looked at the others, his face set in determination. "Let's go. The Prest Kingdom is waiting for us."

  And with that, we set out, our resolve firm, the light of our lanterns fading as we walked into the unknown, but with a shared purpose and a bond that nothing would ever break.