Chapter 10: Unexpected Encounter_2

Breathing heavily, Amira, having exhausted most of her energy, felt her strength slipping.

Her vision blurred slightly as she struggled to stay on her feet, her limbs heavy from the intensity of the fight.

Just then, she felt a pair of strong arms lift her gently. Startled, she looked up and saw Aiden's steady face above her, his expression warm but focused as he carried her over to the shade beneath a nearby tree.

Despite her dizzy, weakened state, Amira tried to wriggle free, protesting, "Put me down. I'm fine."

Aiden only gave her a slight, knowing smile, enduring her feeble attempts to wriggle free.

"Just hold still for a minute, will you?" he murmured, his voice gentle yet resolute.

Something in his tone made Amira pause, and she eventually relaxed to stopped struggling, though her thoughts were spinning.

She hadn't expected to meet him like this, fighting side by side, and she'd certainly never imagined letting him take care of her.

Founding herself caught off guard by the feeling of being held, if only briefly. It was a sensation she had never expected to experience.

And yet, as much as she tried to deny it, she felt a strange warmth at the thought.

Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed when Aiden finally eased her down, gently leaning her against the tree making sure she was steady before releasing her.

She quickly straightened, masking her momentary vulnerability as best as she could.

As soon as she felt steady, she settled into a cross-legged position and closed her eyes, focusing deeply.

She began drawing the spiritual energy from the environment, feeling it circulate slowly through her body, revitalizing her dried-up meridian channels.

With each complete cycle, she felt her strength returning and her body growing stronger.

She even sensed an increased capacity to store energy, like her muscles and body were absorbing and retaining it more than before.

If she kept progressing like this, she could reach the point where her body was fully tempered and ready to create an energy core.

While she channeled this energy, Aiden watched her intently. His gaze softened as he took in her calm, almost ethereal beauty with delicate features of her face softened by concentration.

He'd seen plenty of beautiful women before, but there was something different about her; something that sparked a strange, almost instinctual trust and attraction in him.

He couldn't look away.

Just as he was admiring her, he noticed a subtle shift in the energy around them, moving toward her in a gentle flow.

He closed his eyes, concentrating to sense the energy's pattern, and was stunned. She was effortlessly guiding the energy around her, pulling it in and absorbing it with ease.

In that moment, he remembered his years of training with masters of internal energy who had taught him about harnessing inner strength.

The Federation had even gathered experts from various ancient disciplines; Tai-Chi, Qigong, and other forms of martial arts to explore and refine energy cultivation techniques.

But despite all their best resource to create a structured method for cultivating this energy, they had barely scratched the surface, developing only a rough process that allowed people to replenish energy but not truly harness it.

Yet here she was, handling the process as if it were second nature.

The very technique the Federation is attempting to perfect, with a skill that left him both in awe and curiosity.

"Maybe she has a lineage with ancient martial teachings…" he mused to himself, his mind racing as he considered the possibilities.

If she truly had access to this knowledge, establishing a solid relationship with her might be invaluable in navigating the path ahead.

Just as Aiden pondered his next move, the sound of hurried footsteps caught his attention.

He turned to see Cole and a woman who looked like a member of her team, approaching them, their faces taut with concern.

"Captain!" they called out simultaneously, voices filled with urgency.

Both Amira and Aiden glanced up at the same time, momentarily confused by the shared title.

Amira, now feeling rejuvenated, stood up and addressed Mira, "Yes?"

"Everything's clear now, Captain," Mira reported, a hint of relief in her voice.

Amira acknowledged her with a nod, then turned her attention to Aiden.

Keeping up her role as a mercenary, she asked about taking the beast's body with her, explaining she needed it as proof to collect her payment from her employer.

Aiden, slightly confused by the abrupt question, didn't quite grasp the situation until Cole clarified, "They're mercenaries hired to handle the beasts, sir,"

Understanding, Aiden nodded. He decided it would be wise to let her keep the beast's body, both as a gesture of goodwill and as a way of building rapport.

Just as Amira turned to leave, Aiden called out after her.

"Wait," he said, his tone softened. "What's your name? And…what will you do after this?"

Amira hesitated, choosing her words carefully. She knew better than to give her real name.

"Black Phoenix," she replied smoothly. "As for what comes next, I'll rest and then move on to the next job."

Aiden wasn't surprised at the lack of a real name. He respected the need for secrecy, especially among mercenaries. With a slight nod, he introduced himself.

"Aiden Emberstorm, Major General of the Dragon Unit."

He then added, his tone honest,

"I'm here on a mission to bring a dangerous awakened civilian back to the capital. We want to ensure their power is managed properly before they become a risk to others or themselves. And given how these mutated animals are becoming more common, I may need extra hands to manage things."

The hint of a potential recruitment was clear in his voice. Amira understood his intent immediately but declined politely.

"Sorry, but we're not available for hire at the moment."

With that, she began to turn away. She hesitated, however, glancing back with a serious expression.

"A piece of advice," she said, her voice calm but edged with urgency. "Don't just lock these awakened civilians in some facility that's barely under military control, why not recruit him into your own unit and train him? They are assets rather than liabilities."

Aiden's expression shifted, his eyes narrowed in thought as he processed her words.

How could she know the Federation's plans? But before he could ask, she continued.

"And one more thing: protect your unit. Move the families of your people out of areas near dense forests or wildlife." Her gaze was firm, her tone carrying a weight of certainty. "If you need us, you'll find my team in Frostveil Town in the Icelorn Basin."

With that, she turned and walked away, Mira by her side. Aiden watched her go, a mixture of shock and understanding settling over him.

Her words had struck a chord. She was right neglecting to protect the families of his people would not sit well with him, nor would abandoning the outer provinces.

"Cole," he said quietly, his voice resolute. "Get the message out to our unit. Have everyone bring their families to the central province until this issue with the beasts is under control."

"Understood, sir." as Cole replied.

As Aiden moved toward the helicopter, he couldn't shake the impression she had left on him.

Her advice had not only been sound but selfless, a small act of goodwill that spoke volumes about her character.

Meanwhile, Amira and Mira walked quietly toward where the rest of the team was resting,

Amira noticed the hesitation on Mira's face. Smiling slightly, she nudged her, "Out with it. What do you want to ask?"

Caught off guard, Mira hesitated, then asked with confusion, "Captain, why did you give him a hint and tell him where we're headed?"

Amira looked at her thoughtfully. "You know People like him; someone loyal and genuinely committed to helping others isn't going to just stand by if he's ordered to abandon civilians to save his own skin."

She paused, then continued, "He'd never tolerate the Federation's orders to leave other provinces at the mercy of those beasts while they secure only the central borders. He'd likely even resist the orders to block fleeing people from entering."

Mira looked skeptical. "So you think he'll follow us to Icelorn Basin with his unit just because you gave him a heads-up to keep their family safe?"

"It will definitely on his mind," Amira said, a faint smile curving her lips. "And with the Basin's natural defenses, he'll see it as the best chance to set up a stronghold a way to protect as many people as possible."

Mira frowned slightly, "But why do we need his help, Captain? We're more than capable on our own,"

Amira paused, choosing her words carefully.

"We're only about 300 combat personnel," she explained.

"Defending our own territory is one thing, but still have the manpower to help others?" She added, "That requires a larger, more reliable force and we've worked with his unit for years, and even the previous captain had only good things to say about them."

As they arrived back at the rest area, Amira raised her voice, calling out her voice firm but carrying a hint of warmth,

"Alright, everyone, let's carve up these beasts and load the meat. If we're quick, we can make it back before lunch and get this cooked up for all of us."

Her team moved efficiently, loading up the vehicles with the freshly harvested beast parts.

As they drove away from the grove, Amira allowed herself a moment of calm, a brief respite before the storm she knew was coming.