Chapter 13 — The First Mistake
The next morning, Lux ordered Hugo, Claire, and Lira to scout the northeast side of the fort ruins.
"Remember. Anything strange, fall back immediately. No fighting alone," Lux emphasized.
"Understood, Captain!" they saluted jokingly, Claire giving a playful wink.
But hours later...
A faint scream echoed from the northeast.
Synoh and Lux immediately rushed toward the sound — only to find the corpses of corrupted beasts... and trails of battle.
They followed the blood and broken trees deeper into the ruins...
And found Hugo slumped against a wall, shield shattered, body unmoving.
Nearby, Claire's daggers lay abandoned, her body pierced with blackened spikes.
Lira, collapsed against a tree, barely breathing, blood staining her white robe.
"Claire?! Hugo?! Lira?!" Lux shouted desperately, running toward them.
Lira's fingers trembled as she reached toward Lux and Synoh.
"I-I'm sorry... we saw... a child crying... alone... thought we could help..."
Her voice cracked, weak.
Lux gripped her hand tightly. "No, stay with me, Lira! Help is coming! Stay!"
Tears filled Lira's eyes as she whispered, "We... wanted to be heroes... too..."
And then... her hand went still.
Lux stared in shock as Synoh knelt beside him, checking for a pulse.
Synoh slowly shook his head.
All three... were gone.
---
Silence. Only the cold wind answered them.
The others arrived moments later, faces pale in horror.
Edward clenched his fists. Yuta and Emily looked away, unable to bear the sight.
Lux stood up slowly, his face hidden behind his bangs.
"I gave them an order..." Lux muttered. "They disobeyed... because they trusted their hearts..."
Synoh put a hand on Lux's shoulder but Lux shrugged it off.
"This is my fault," Lux whispered.
Synoh said nothing — because no words could ease this weight.
The squad buried Claire, Hugo, and Lira near the fort walls, marking their graves with stones.
Lux stood silently before them long after the others had gone back to camp.
From that day forward, the brightness in Lux's smile... faded.
And Synoh swore quietly to himself:
"I'll protect what he cannot. I'll bear what he cannot."
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End of Chapter 13