Story 244: Bond of Fire

The night was quiet, almost too quiet, as Damien, Mira, and Elara regrouped after their harrowing battle. Damien’s mind lingered on the creature that had crumbled to dust, its intelligence far beyond any undead he’d encountered. Yet, the deeper mystery lay with Mira—her secrets were stacking up, and trust felt like a distant hope.

Just before dawn, the trio found themselves sitting around a low fire, its flickering light casting shadows that danced across their weary faces. Damien couldn’t shake the feeling that, for once, he wasn’t the only one with scars. Mira, staring into the fire, seemed lost in thought, her normally guarded eyes showing glimpses of a past both broken and resilient.

Finally, Damien broke the silence. “You’ve fought like this before. Faced creatures like these.”