There was chaos on the battlefield. The thunder of marching troops drowned out the soldiers' war cries as they clashed steel against steel.
Fire rained down upon crumbling walls, and siege weapons roared. The air was heavy with smoke and blood.
Kael and his group paused, as did the adventurers who had been transported with them. In order to complete the trial's objective, several instinctively reached for their weapons, prepared to charge into the Earth Kingdom's stronghold. Others stood motionless, unsure of what to do.
The tension was broken by Sera's voice. "We have to get moving right away. The Fire Kingdom may put the royals to death before we can get to them if we wait too long."
Kael didn't turn as he stood a few steps ahead. He looked all around the battlefield, taking in every detail. The troops, the weapons of siege, the disciplined, purposeful movements of the troops.
"No." He spoke firmly.
Sera frowned. "No?"
Kael finally turned to face her. "You're assuming the Earth Kingdom is innocent. That the Fire Kingdom is evil. However, this is a morality test, not a case of mindless bravery."
As she listened, Mira's brows wrinkled, her keen intellect already putting the pieces together. "You believe there's more to this war?"
Kael gave a nod. "Morality is more than merely saving lives. It all comes down to understanding right from wrong. We may be making a mistake if we jump in without fully comprehending the situation."
Reiner's expression was unreadable as he crossed his arms. "So, what do you suggest?"
"We start by gathering information." Kael spoke steadily. "Find out how this war started. Who the real enemy is. Only then do we decide how to act."
There were a few quiet seconds as the group took in what he had said. Then Reiner grinned, which surprised Kael.
"All right. I get what you're saying." He looked around at the others. "We should split up. I'll take the outpost of the Fire Kingdom with Sera and Luthen. Kael, you bring Mira and Oris to the side of the Earth Kingdom."
"I'll go with Mira's group." Sera spoke calmly, but she spent more time staring at Kael than was necessary. There was something behind her eyes—curiosity, maybe even suspicion.
Reiner's smile wavered a bit. "Sera—"
"I've already decided." She spoke without glancing at him.
A flicker of something flashed across Reiner's face, but he quickly masked it. "All right," he responded, his voice even. "Oris, you'll accompany me instead."
Kael didn't react to the exchange. It didn't matter who was in his group. What mattered was getting the information they needed.
Reiner looked at the battlefield one last time. "We meet back here before nightfall. No unnecessary fights. We stick to gathering intel."
Everybody gave a nod. Then they moved.
***
After only fifty paces, Kael's group saw a unit of mounted soldiers galloping across the war-torn plains.
"Perfect." Kael spoke softly.
Mira's eyes lit up in understanding right away. "Want to borrow their horses?"
Kael who was on the move already, almost stumbled on hearing her question. "Stay close."
The riders were too focused on their destination to notice them. Kael crouched low, using the fractured terrain as cover as he moved into position. Sera and Mira followed without question.
Kael surged forward as the first rider passed by. His hands shot up, grasping the soldier by the leg and yanking him clean off the horse. Kael shoved the man onto the dirt before he could even yell.
Sera and Mira didn't think twice.
Before the fallen man's horse could get away, Mira grabbed the reins and swung atop it. Sera's well-placed arrow sliced the saddle straps of another soldier, taking him by surprise. The man tumbled as his horse reared, and In one smooth motion, she swung up onto the horse's back.
Kael mounted the last horse, gripping the reins tightly. The beasts were trained for war, but he had handled worse.
"Move!" he barked.
The three of them kicked their horses into motion, speeding across the battlefield before the rest of the soldiers could react.
Shouts came from behind them. A few arrows whistled through the air, but none found their mark. Within seconds, they were lost in the chaos of war.
Sera let out a small, exhilarated laugh. "That was reckless, but fun. "
Kael didn't reply. His focus was ahead. The Earth Kingdom's stronghold loomed in the distance, its banners rippling in the smoky wind. All they needed to do now was enter.
***
The enormous city walls extended high into the flaming sky. Here, the streets were lined with barricades, soldiers guarded every corner, and the air was heavy with the weight of desperation—the mark of war.
Outside the gates, the three of them dismounted and blended in with the sea of weary warriors filtering in and out.
Guards were stationed at the door, scrutinizing every person who entered.
Kael repositioned his tattered cloak so that it mostly concealed his face. "Keep your weapons low. We're just another group of mercenaries."
Sera and Mira followed his lead.
A soldier moved forward to block their path as they got closer to the gates. "State your purpose."
Mira stepped in. "We're hired swords," she said smoothly. "Looking for work."
The guard eyed them carefully. "Where is your crest?"
Kael's hand twitched. He had anticipated a struggle, but not this soon.
Then, Sera acted.
She reached into her pouch, pulling out a small iron emblem. She held it up casually. "We're with Captain Vareth's unit."
The guard stepped aside after a fleeting glance at the crest. "Move along."
Kael didn't ask any questions. Without further word, they passed through the gates.
Once inside, he gave Sera a sidelong glance. "Captain Vareth?"
She smirked. "I grabbed that from the soldier you knocked off his horse."
Kael let out a small breath. "Smart."
Mira's eyes flicked between them. "Now what?"
Kael looked around the streets. Soldiers moved with exhausted resolve, grim faces and damaged armor. "Now we learn why they are fighting this war," he murmured.
It didn't take long to gather information. War made people careless with their words, and soldiers talked when they thought no one was listening.
They learned three things.
First, this battle had been going on for more than ten years. Every year, the Fire Kingdom continued to advance farther into Earth Kingdom territory.
Second, news of the royals in captivity circulated. Though rumors suggested something more sinister, the common soldiers believed that they were political prisoners. Some said that the leaders of the Earth Kingdom had betrayed them and were using their capture as a pretext to escalate the war.
Third, the true aggressor was not the Fire Kingdom. The first to strike was the Earth Kingdom.
Kael leaned against the wooden wall of a supply tent, his mind working through the pieces.
Sera scowled. "So we've been sent here to save the royals of a kingdom that might not deserve saving?"
Mira had a distressed look on her face. "If the Fire Kingdom was defending itself, we might be on the wrong side of history."
Kael let out a breath. "This isn't just a test of strength. It's a test of judgment."
Sera folded her arms. "So, what should we do?"
Kael responded right away. "We meet with Reiner's group. Compare what we've learned. We then decide our next course of action."
Mira gave a nod. "I agree."
After hesitating, Sera let out a sigh. "All right. However, I have a feeling that this trial won't be as easy as picking a side."
Kael looked over his shoulder. The war-torn land was covered in deep shadows as the sun began to set.
'She might be correct.' he thought. Additionally, he had a feeling that the real trial had not even started.