The next morning, Kael woke up first. The fresh air entered through a slightly open window, refreshing his tired body after a night full of tension. He sat on the edge of his bed, glancing around the house of Paman Elro, which was still quiet. The soft sound of the others' breathing filled the space, the calmness of their sleep a stark contrast to the events of the night before.
Rana, Teresa, Mira, Teren, and Parker were still asleep in various corners of the room. Kael looked at them for a moment, realizing just how hard the journey had been. Despite being so young, Kael felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders—responsibility for protecting them, for securing their future amid the growing threats.
He turned toward the window, gazing at the morning scene that was slowly brightening. The massive stone walls that surrounded Ticonic's village could be seen faintly in the distance, a boundary between their world and a larger, more dangerous one.
Kael stood up slowly and walked to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Though the atmosphere in the house was calm, he knew they couldn't stay idle for long. They had to move, and quickly.
As he was preparing the ingredients, he heard light footsteps behind him. Rana, her eyes half-closed, emerged from her room and approached him.
"What are you thinking about?" Rana asked, her voice still hoarse from sleep.
Kael gave her a small smile. "I've been thinking about what our next move should be. We can't stay here forever, and I need to know what's really happening outside that wall."
Rana nodded, her eyes showing both concern and unease. "I know. I feel like we have to act now. But I'm scared. It's not just about us anymore, Kael. It's about all of Ticonic."
Kael sighed, feeling the weight of the responsibility more than ever. "We need to find out what they want. They're not just trying to conquer us—they want to use us, probably for something bigger."
As they spoke, Teren suddenly appeared from behind the door. He stepped closer, his face filled with determination. "I agree with Kael. We can't waste any more time. We need to find out what they're planning, and we have to stop them."
Teresa soon entered the room, offering a small smile, though worry was evident in her eyes. "I know you want to move quickly, but we have to be careful. They're still looking for us, and there's no guarantee they won't track us down."
Parker, who had just woken up, joined them. "We have a little time before they start raiding more places. We need to plan our next move carefully."
Kael looked at each of them, feeling the unity between them. This was no longer just about survival—it was about fighting for their future. They wouldn't let their world be taken from them so easily.
"Let's eat and then make a plan," Kael said with confidence. "We'll find out what they want, and we'll fight to protect Ticonic. Together."
With renewed determination, they all sat at the table to eat. A long journey awaited them, but Kael knew that they weren't alone—and with them, there was hope.
After making sure everyone was ready, Kael and Parker nodded to each other, confirming they were set to leave. Teresa, Teren, Mira, and Rana followed behind as they stepped out of the house carefully, maintaining calm in the tense atmosphere that hung in the air. Paman Elro remained inside, saying that he couldn't join them because he had to guard the house and be prepared for any potential threats.
They walked quietly towards the village, which now seemed deserted, the streets that were usually full of activity now eerily silent. Only the wind could be heard, and their clothes rustled as they moved swiftly. Kael felt the heavy burden on his shoulders, but he knew they had to move quickly. Their goal was to gather more information about the enemy's plans, which were drawing nearer.
Suddenly, the sharp sound of gunfire echoed nearby, cutting through the morning silence. Everyone froze, and Teresa, with her sharp military instincts, immediately shouted, "Hide!"
They rushed to find cover behind piles of wood and abandoned structures. Kael glanced back and saw Parker clutching his wounded arm. The wound was deep—blood had begun to flow freely.
"Parker!" Kael shouted as he ran toward him, but Parker only gave him a weak smile.
"It's nothing, Kael. I can still handle it."
Teresa kneeled beside Parker, quickly checking the injury. "This is the work of a sniper. They're shooting from a distance. We have to be careful," she said, scanning their surroundings.
Kael looked at the ground and then noticed something unusual. Beneath a pile of rocks nearby, there was a small, glowing tech bracelet. Without thinking, Kael grabbed it and put it on his wrist.
Suddenly, the bracelet shifted on its own, moving up to his face. It felt cold against his skin as it snugly attached itself to his face and transformed into a futuristic pair of glasses. Kael felt an odd sensation, but then his vision sharpened, seeing everything around him with extreme clarity. The glasses displayed a transparent screen with floating digital data in front of his eyes.
"Wow… this is… incredible," Kael whispered in awe. He could now see red dots marking the enemy's positions, even able to zoom in for a closer view.
"I can see them!" Kael exclaimed. "I can see where the shots are coming from and where the snipers are located."
Teresa, who had finished checking Parker, nodded quickly. "Good, Kael. We need to use that to our advantage."
Everyone nodded, and they started moving more swiftly, following Kael's lead, who now had the advantage of seeing the enemy's positions clearly. With the help of the glasses, they knew exactly where the shots were coming from and could avoid danger more efficiently.
"We need to get to a safer spot," Kael said, guiding them to a more protected path from the sniper's line of sight. "Don't let them know we can see them. We have to stay cautious."
They continued their journey more carefully, employing a more tactical approach. Kael, now with the help of the tech glasses, led them through the empty village streets, evading further sniper fire, and getting closer to their destination. But Kael knew this was only the beginning. With snipers out there and threats still looming, they couldn't afford to relax.
But one thing was certain: they now had a better chance of surviving, and Kael felt more confident that they could face whatever was coming.