Solis stood at the edge of Mailie, the warm hues of twilight painting the horizon. His bag was slung over his shoulder, packed light for the journey ahead. He glanced back at the Postknight Academy, guilt flickering in his eyes.
"I should've told them," he murmured to himself. His thoughts lingered on Ada, Vaidya, and even Pearl, who still lay recovering in the infirmary. But this journey was personal. The thought of Katalan Valley—his home—potentially devastated by the dragon attack sent shivers down his spine.
"I'll be back," he whispered, gripping the hilt of his sword. With that, he turned and disappeared into the darkening forest, the shadows swallowing him whole.
---
Meanwhile somewhere else
The forest near Riverside Hospital was eerily quiet, the only sound the rustle of leaves as Captain Seraphine and Captain Colins moved with deliberate speed. The intel was clear—a group of cult members had been spotted here, and they weren't leaving without answers.
"There," Colins whispered, pointing to faint tracks in the damp soil.
Seraphine's sharp eyes followed the trail, leading to a small clearing where cloaked figures surrounded a makeshift altar. Strange symbols carved into the trees glowed faintly in the dim light.
"They're performing some kind of ritual," Colins muttered, his jaw tightening.
Seraphine nodded, signaling for him to flank left as she moved to the right. The two captains crept closer, their weapons drawn.
But one of the cultists looked up suddenly, sensing their approach. "Intruders!" he hissed.
Chaos erupted. The cultists scattered, some unleashing bolts of dark magic while others bolted into the forest. Seraphine charged forward, her twin blades cutting through the magical projectiles with precision.
Colins raised his shield to block a fiery burst of energy, countering with a surge of magic that knocked one of the cultists off their feet. "You're not getting away!" he growled, pursuing a group trying to flee deeper into the woods.
Seraphine moved like a whirlwind, incapacitating another cultist with a swift strike to the legs. She noticed one figure—a leader, judging by the intricate symbols on their cloak—breaking away from the rest.
"Colins, the leader's mine!" she shouted, sprinting after them.
The chase was relentless, the leader weaving through the dense underbrush with agility born of desperation. Seraphine pushed herself harder, her breathing steady despite the exertion. She finally closed the gap, tackling the cultist to the ground.
"Talk," she demanded, pinning them down.
The cultist smirked. "You've only scratched the surface, knight. The chaos has just begun."
Before Seraphine could press further, the cultist muttered a spell, vanishing in a burst of smoke. Frustration flashed across her face as she looked around, but the remaining cultists were subdued by Colins and his team.
---
That evening, Ada paced restlessly outside the training grounds. Vaidya sat on a nearby bench, flipping through his notes but glancing up every so often.
"He's not anywhere," Ada said, her voice tinged with worry. "I've checked the infirmary, the library, even the stables. It's like he vanished."
Vaidya closed his book with a sigh. "Solis wouldn't just leave without telling us… would he?"
Their shared concern brought them to Tedric's quarters. Tedric, sipping tea and rubbing his temples after a long day, raised an eyebrow as they burst in.
"Tedric, where's Solis?" Ada demanded, crossing her arms.
Tedric hesitated, his eyes darting between them. "He… he left on a personal journey. That's all I can say."
"A personal journey?" Ada's voice rose. "That's not good enough. Where did he go?"
Vaidya leaned forward, his tone calmer but no less determined. "Tedric, if something's wrong, we deserve to know. He's our friend."
The pressure mounted, and Tedric finally sighed. "He's headed to Katalan Valley. The dragon attack happened there, and it's where his family is. Plushis father is not in a very good condition as far as I heard. He didn't want to worry you, but…"
Ada's expression softened, her arms dropping to her sides. "He's going home."
Vaidya nodded slowly. "We'll have to trust him. But if he needs our help—"
"I'll send word," Tedric assured them. "Now, let him do what he needs to do."
---
In the infirmary, Pearl stirred, her eyelids fluttering open. The room swayed slightly as her senses returned, and a dull ache coursed through her body.
"Easy now," Elizabeth said gently, placing a cool cloth on her forehead.
"Miss Elizabeth?" Pearl's voice was hoarse, her eyes filling with tears as fragmented memories of the battle resurfaced. "What happened? Is everyone okay?"
Elizabeth sat beside her, her kind gaze steady. "You were brave, Pearl. Solis and the others brought you back safe. You'll be just fine."
Tears spilled over as Pearl covered her face. "I… I failed. I let you down. I failed to deliver the medicines in the Forked Valley. I am so... sorry."
"Don't worry child. It's my fault too. I should have known that situation will became this worse. Tedric told me but.... I just can't leave those poor villagers die out of scarcity of medicine in such situation. I am sorry." Elizabeth repents deeply.
"And I let everyone down too. I wasn't strong enough…"
Elizabeth pulled her into a comforting embrace, stroking her hair. "Oh, sweetheart, don't say that. You gave your all, and that's what matters. No one is blaming you."
Pearl sobbed softly, her voice muffled. "I just… I wanted to be stronger, like Solis and Ada… I...."
Elizabeth leaned back, cupping Pearl's face in her hands. "Strength isn't just about fighting. It's about heart, and you have plenty of that. Rest now, child. Tomorrow is another day."
Pearl nodded, wiping her tears. "Thank you, Miss Elizabeth. I'll do better, I promise. I will surely prove myself a good Postknight and attain the Rank D license."
Elizabeth smiled warmly. "I know you will. I have faith in you."
As Pearl drifted back into a peaceful sleep, Elizabeth stayed by her side, her presence a reassuring constant in the stillness of the infirmary.