Chapter 71: Returning to the Fold!

Chapter 71: Returning to the Fold

Tessa and her group walked through the dense thickets leading to the Rhemonic hideout, with General Rwald Dune in tow, his wrists tightly bound by glowing, ethereal shackles conjured by Tessa.

Adrian dragged him along effortlessly, as if he were nothing more than a sack of grain. The general grumbled under his breath, his face a mix of rage and disbelief, while Ecdy and Nymff took turns mocking him.

"Look at you, General," Ecdy teased, nudging Nymff. "All those big threats and now you're nothing more than a glorified backpack."

Nymff grinned. "You were supposed to bring an army, not become baggage. I guess you really do carry the weight of your soldiers... literally."

Adrian stifled a laugh, tightening his grip on the general. "C'mon, General, at least keep your chin up. You don't want the kids back at camp seeing you sulking."

The General's face was crimson with rage, but he said nothing, biting his lip as they neared the Rhemonic encampment.

They passed several sentinels, each one giving the general a disgusted glance before bowing respectfully to Tessa. The hideout opened before them, vast and sprawling, with tents and huts scattered among the trees. This was home to the Green Rhemonics, Nyala's people, and Tessa felt a strange sense of belonging here, though she'd only just begun to understand their ways.

As they approached the camp's center, a familiar figure rushed out from one of the larger tents—Ms. Caldwell. Her eyes were wide with worry, and her expression a mix of anger and relief.

"Tessa!" Ms. Caldwell's voice cracked as she hurried towards her. "Why didn't you tell me before you left? I woke up and found out you had already held a meeting with the Rhemonic people, and then I hear you went to war with some dangerous group from the east! You could have been hurt—or worse!"

Tessa's resolve faltered as soon as she saw the tears welling up in Ms. Caldwell's eyes. She could see how deeply her mother was affected by her sudden departure. She had been so focused on protecting everyone else, she hadn't considered how much her actions might have scared her.

"I'm sorry, Mom," Tessa said, her voice breaking. Her eyes softened, and without a second thought, she closed the distance between them and hugged Ms. Caldwell tightly.

Adrian and Ecdy, watching from behind, exchanged glances before Adrian shrugged and walked over, wrapping his arm around both Tessa and Ms. Caldwell.

Ecdy followed suit, pulling them all into a tight group hug. Nymff stood back for a moment, arms crossed and grinning as usual, but when she noticed Mr. Thompson inching closer, clearly not wanting to be left out, she let out a laugh.

"Come on, Thompson, don't be shy," Nymff teased. "We're all family here."

With an exaggerated sigh, Mr. Thompson joined the group hug, his stiff demeanor slowly melting away as he patted Ms. Caldwell on the back. Ms Caldwell felt better, much better.

The warmth of the reunion was short-lived, though, as a pair of figures emerged from the crowd—twin Rhemonic warriors, Lhaze and Lhize. Their faces were grim, and Tessa immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Lhaze, Lhize," Nyala greeted them, stepping forward. "What's going on?"

Lhaze spoke first, his voice low and serious. "There's been... an incident."

Lhize followed up, pulling something from her satchel. It was a withered blood leaf flower, its edges blackened and crisp as if scorched by flame. The blood leaf was the ultimate symbol of the Green Rhemonics, representing life, unity, and strength. Destroying one was a declaration of war.

"This was found just outside the camp," Lhize said, her tone tense. "And it wasn't alone." She handed Nyala a small note, its parchment old and worn, the ink on it sharp and malicious.

Nyala read the note aloud for everyone to hear:

"To the false believers of the Green Rhemonics—your worship of false goddesses ends now. The Red Rhemonics have risen, and with them, your destruction is sealed. Consider this your only warning. The next blood spilled will not belong to flowers."

The crowd that had gathered around the group grew restless. Murmurs of fear and outrage spread through the camp like wildfire. Ms. Caldwell looked pale as she clutched Tessa's hand tighter, and even Mr. Thompson's usually composed face showed signs of concern.

Adrian, however, leaned casually against a nearby tree, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Red Rhemonics, huh? Sounds like they've got a flair for the dramatic."

Nymff rolled her eyes, glancing at Ecdy. "What is it with people and issuing warnings like it's some kind of theatrical production?"

Ecdy nodded, cracking his knuckles. "Right? They could just send a nice letter or something, but nooo, they've got to burn flowers and make threats."

Tessa's expression hardened. She knew the significance of the blood leaf flower to Nyala's people. This wasn't just a threat—it was a declaration of war.

"We'll deal with this," Tessa said, her voice firm. "But we need to be smart about it. If they're expecting us to retaliate immediately, we should make them think twice."

Adrian, standing a few feet away, caught her gaze and nodded, his playful demeanor replaced by the focused intensity she'd come to admire. "So, what's the plan, boss?"

Tessa took a deep breath, feeling the weight of leadership pressing on her shoulders. She was no stranger to war, but this was different. This wasn't just about fighting—they needed to unite the Rhemonics if they were to stand any chance against the SSG and their growing threats. But for now, their first priority was survival. And figuring out just how deep the conflict with the Red Rhemonics ran.

"We start by figuring out what the Red Rhemonics want—and why they've suddenly decided to act now," Tessa said. "We also need to send a message back. One that shows we won't back down."

Nymff grinned, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Now that's something I can get behind."

As the group began to discuss their next moves, General Rwald Dune, still bound, sat silently at the edge of the clearing, watching everything unfold. His eyes narrowed as he tried to understand the strange unity between these people—how someone like Tessa could command such loyalty and respect, even from those who barely knew her.

For the first time since he'd been captured, the general felt something he hadn't in a long time: doubt.