Caelan took the stairs two at a time, running past Aurex, who was slumped against the stone, mentally breaking. He patted him on the shoulder as he passed. “Hey, buddy. Ah—Lieutenant, I need a massive favour—”

  Solara turned. “Captain, are you finished over there yet?”

  Caelan smiled like he didn’t have a care in the world, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ll be quick, I promise. I’ve been mostly fucking with them.”

  Solara narrowed her eyes. “Sooooo… why are you here?”

  Caelan nodded to himself. “Ah yeah—erm—you got a pencil and paper? Oh, and a med kit, if there’s any left.”

  Solara sighed. “Over there in my bag. We didn’t need any. But please don’t try to show off now.”

  Elyria tilted her head, smiling. “Best to let him blow off some steam. Go for it, Captain. Go wild.”

  Caelan fished the supplies out of Solara’s bag, scribbled a note fast, then turned back with a grin. “You heard the woman, right? Lieutenant—can you—”

  “Just don’t bring it over here.”

  A gunshot cracked through the forest to their left, outrageously loud. Everyone froze for a beat before Solara rubbed her eyes. “At least she didn’t make a mess this time.”

  Caelan turned to Elyria, smiling. “Bud, would you?”

  Elyria hopped down. “Yeah, yeah. I’m on it. Lieutenant, would you mind dropping the—”

  Solara shook her head. “Oh yeah—right. Sorry. By the way, Caelan, Mynxi was looking for you.”

  Caelan waved it off. “She’ll be fine.”

  Solara lowered the floating panes around the tower. “Yes, I know. We will be talking about that, Dad.”

  Elyria glanced back. “Well, you can talk to me as well, Lieutenant. I’ve been overseeing it too.”

  Solara winced. “Noted. Oh no!” She leaned over the edge of the tower and threw up.

  From below, Jett screamed, “OW—WHAT IS THIS?! OW! GET IT OFF ME, PLEASE!”

  Lyra screamed back, “STAY AWAY FROM ME!”

  Caelan and Elyria laughed. Elyria turned back to him and raised a fist with a smile. “One for the road.” Caelan bumped it—and the tower shuddered as they kicked off.

  Stone cracked. Air boomed.

  They were gone in an instant, ripping away in opposite directions, hundreds of feet cleared in seconds as shockwaves tore through the forest.

  Behind them, Aurex curled into the corner, near tears. “I regret all my choices in life.”

  From somewhere else, Katie screamed, “JETT—IF YOU GET THAT ON MY SLEEPING BAG I’LL KILL YOU!”

  Back in the forest, Steve was on one knee, breathing hard. He laughed to himself between ragged breaths. “Not so smug now, are you? The man’s a complete—”

  A shockwave ripped past him.

  The trees howled.

  Steve jolted, shaking, stuttering, “I… I couldn’t even see that. Did that bastard set me up? Just wait until I get a hold of you, Ravon. I’m going to rip that smug throat of yours out.”

  He stopped.

  Still.

  A small shape was skipping toward him.

  Mynxi.

  Humming quietly. Happy. Completely unbothered.

  Steve stared in disbelief. “So the rumours were true. He is the father of a demon… this is my chance.”

  He tried to stand.

  Pain flared.

  He dropped back to one knee with a grunt.

  Mynxi giggled. “Silly man. Be careful. Like Ely tells me—don’t be too silly or you get hurt.”

  Steve dragged in deep breaths, rage boiling.

  Mynxi stopped right in front of him. She tilted her head, tail swaying side to side, and smiled.

  She held out a juice box. “Shhh. It was meant for Dad… but do you want it?”

  Steve’s breathing went sharp.

  He forced himself upright, teeth clenched.

  Mynxi just kept smiling.

  Steve looked down at her with pure disdain. He muttered, barely audible, “This is how I’ll get the bastard.”

  He slapped the juice box out of her hand.

  It hit the dirt.

  He reached for her.

  Mynxi looked down at the juice box.

  Her face crumpled.

  She started to cry.

  Quiet. Hurt.

  “Come here, you little demon rat.”

  Mynxi clenched her fists. Then she screamed at the top of her lungs. “DAD! THIS MAN’S A MEANIE!”

  Steve sneered, reaching again. “He won’t save you—”

  The forest detonated.

  A crash like the world breaking.

  Steve was hurled through the trees, smashing branches and bark, before slamming into the ground.

  Another shockwave pinned him there.

  He looked back in terror.

  Caelan stood where Steve had been moments ago.

  Eyes sharp.

  Locked on him.

  Steve whispered, breaking, “He… he’s going to kill me. I can’t survive this.”

  Caelan knelt beside Mynxi, calm as ever. He picked up the juice box, wiped the dirt away, and gently rested his hand on her head. “Oh, did you bring this for me, little one?”

  Mynxi wiped her eyes with her jacket and nodded.

  Caelan took a drink, then let out an exaggerated gasp. “Wow. How amazing is my daughter? How did you know Dad wanted a drink?”

  Mynxi sniffed, then smiled a little. “Auntie Solara says we always need to keep drinking.”

  Caelan smiled. “Who’s my smart little girl. Now don’t tell your Auntie Solara this, but you should always, always listen to her.”

  Mynxi nodded hard. “Uh-huh. And Auntie said I did a super duper job on the baddies, Dad.”

  “Of course,” Caelan said softly. “Because you’re the super duperest, aren’t you?”

  Mynxi looked up at him. “Are you going to beat the bad man, Dad?”

  Caelan nodded. “Okay. How about this? You run back to Auntie Solara, and you tell her your dad said she’s to hold you up so you can see it. And when you’re ready, you shout our special word.”

  Mynxi’s eyes lit up. “Is he going to fly?”

  Caelan leaned in, voice low. “So very high.”

  “Okay, Dad.” Mynxi turned—then stopped. She hugged him gently. “Love you, Dad.”

  Caelan hugged her back, quiet and fierce. “Forever and ever, little one… right, now you run back to Auntie Solara, okay?”

  Mynxi nodded, smiling again. She jumped.

  The ground shattered beneath her.

  She landed back on the tower in a single bound.

  Caelan turned back to Steve.

  His voice dropped.

  “Right. Now let’s get this done for her.”

  Caelan started walking.

  Slow.

  Measured.

  He cracked his neck once, the sound sharp in the quiet. “So now do you understand why that piece of shit Ravon ran? Do you even, in the slightest, begin to understand why you lost here yet?”

  Steve tried to pull himself up against the tree, hands shaking. “What gives you the right to lord your power over everyone? He was right about one thing—you’re a walking hypocrite. When people figure it out, they’ll see you for the monster you truly are.”

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Caelan stopped a few feet away.

  He squinted slightly.

  A smug smile crept in. “So I’ve got to worry about the opinions of people who partake in what—forced followings? Attack on sight for any group you can push around? Or, oh, my favourite—the fact that even the ones who follow you, the ones who put all their hope into surviving in here, you treat like personal property?”

  He shrugged lightly. “Yeah, don’t get me wrong. I’m a complete fuck?up who’s lucky to still be here every day. But the difference between me and you is I won’t walk past a piece of shit doing that kind of thing without putting my money where my mouth is.”

  Steve forced himself upright, finally standing. He stared Caelan dead in the eye. “What do you expect me to do? I didn’t ask to come here. This wasn’t my choice—to be stuck in this ridiculous place, fighting to survive day in, day out. You would never understand.”

  Caelan answered quietly. Calm. “You’re right. I won’t understand what you had to do to survive in here. You’re completely on the nose with that.”

  He took another step closer. “But that’s not why I’m going to eliminate you today. And it’s not why I’m going to make a massive show of it.”

  Steve’s jaw tightened. “Then why? Why not just go our separate ways and never see each other again? Why go to all this effort if you’re so far above us?”

  Caelan tilted his head to the side, unblinking. The smile stayed, but his teeth clenched. “Because I’m sending a message to the ones who come next. You fuck with my family, I’ll fucking kill you.”

  He leaned in just enough. “And where better to start than a jumped?up prick who reached Mach speed what—a year ago? Fuck me, you haven’t even figured out how to use it properly yet. But no, you thought, ‘Let me go mess with the guy trying to keep the peace in the region.’ Ravon really fucking played you like a tool.”

  Steve stood there, speechless.

  Caelan straightened. “However, I am willing to make you a deal. One?time offer—same as I gave your little friend Renn before I turned him to gold. You know, the one you were more than happy to throw under the bus for a shot at me a minute ago.”

  Steve’s eyes bulged, teeth grinding. “And what would that be?”

  “If you tell me where Ravon is,” Caelan said evenly, “I’ll let you follow Aurex. Somewhere I can keep you in my sights. Simple as that.”

  Steve started to laugh.

  Slow.

  Broken.

  It built until he barked it out loud. “You honestly expect me to fall in line after you eliminated my first—and only—friend in this place? I don’t give a damn about your fucking offer. Because if I had to see that smug face any longer, I would fucking lose it.”

  Caelan blinked once. “Geez. You could’ve just said you don’t know where he is.”

  A gentle breeze rolled through the forest.

  Leaves stirred.

  Nothing else moved.

  Caelan and Steve stood there in the quiet.

  Then Steve snapped.

  He moved in a heartbeat.

  A fist tore toward Caelan’s head.

  Caelan didn’t move.

  He bent his neck aside—barely—and the punch missed clean.

  Steve broke into a flurry, throwing everything he had.

  Caelan took small steps back, hands still in his pockets, slipping past each strike with insulting ease. He almost hopped around him.

  “Love the effort, lad,” Caelan said lightly. “But still too late.”

  Steve swung again.

  This time the fist landed—right into Caelan’s face.

  Caelan didn’t flinch.

  Steve started coughing up blood.

  He looked down.

  Caelan’s fist was buried in his stomach.

  Steve staggered back and dropped to one knee.

  “I’ll give you one thing,” Caelan said calmly. “I’ve met maybe a handful of people who can take this level of punishment. Even knowing you won’t remember this after the war… even if I don’t agree with how you lived in here.”

  He stepped closer. “The one thing I’ll never take from you is the level you reached and aimed for. Leave this place knowing that, no matter what comes next, you did your best.”

  Steve spat blood. “I never asked for your opinion. When I’m done with you, I’m going to slaughter that little bitch of a demon—”

  His face hit the ground.

  It bounced.

  Then smashed again.

  The impact carved a crater into the earth.

  Steve laughed through the dirt. “Hit a nerve.”

  Caelan’s voice went cold. “Oh, I’m going to hit something, alright. No more talking.”

  “Finally…” Steve rasped.

  Caelan lifted his leg and kicked.

  Steve rolled through the forest, smashing into trees as he went.

  From the tower, a small voice echoed. “DAD! I’M READY!”

  Caelan grit his teeth. “Well fuck. Now or never—because my next hit ends you.”

  He glanced down and spotted Steve’s sword lying nearby.

  Caelan picked it up and tossed it at Steve’s feet.

  Steve stared at it.

  Caelan stood still.

  Waiting.

  Steve hauled himself upright, grabbed the sword, and raised it overhead.

  Caelan didn’t move.

  It was like the world had frozen around him.

  Steve charged, screaming.

  Caelan’s thoughts slipped in, quiet and steady.

  This was never a fair fight. No fight ever is. Especially not for those who take longer to understand the weight of power.

  But when you target the Revolutionary Army, I must respond with overwhelming force.

  This is how I protect them. Even when I’m not there.

  I’m sorry I never gave you a chance—but this is what I have to do.

  Steve closed the distance.

  Caelan’s hands wrapped around both swords.

  Just before the strike could land—

  Steve stopped.

  Frozen mid?lunge.

  “You bastard,” he choked.

  From the tower, a voice rang out. “FUCK!”

  “MYNXI LANGSTON LANGUE!” Solara screamed.

  The world caught up.

  Steve fell.

  In four pieces.

  Caelan finished returning his swords as they clicked back into their sheaths.

  The ground collapsed.

  A shockwave tore outward, slicing every tree in the region cleanly down.

  The wave expanded—

  —and even the tower hundreds of feet away began to crumble.

  A sharp ring of cracked earth split the clearing.

  Caelan didn’t say a word.

  He just turned and walked away.

  Steve’s remains drifted upward, dissolving into golden orbs.

  Caelan sighed. “Fucking blue balls, man. Well—there’s always next time.”

  In a single step, he was back at the tower.

  Recruits and failed recruits alike stood frozen, staring.

  Mynxi launched herself into his arms. “Dad! So cool! Dad was all like—pow! Then boom! Can you show me how to do it, Dad?”

  Caelan laughed, holding her. “Of course. Want Dad to show you tomorrow?”

  “Nope,” Solara said flatly. “Not happening. I’m joining you tomorrow. I want to see what you two have been calling training for myself.”

  “No fair, Lieutenant,” Caelan protested. “You said I could train her however I liked.”

  Bella crossed her arms. “You and Elyria hardly make healthy role models.”

  Hector chuckled. “Come on, my love. Give the man a break. He’s been dealing with a lot lately.”

  Caelan grinned and walked past Hector, slapping him on the ass. “This is why you’re my favourite half, beautiful.”

  Bella was in his face instantly, teeth bared. “Touch my man again, and you’ll get that fight you’ve been looking for. Get him, little man.”

  Mynxi bonked Bella on the head. “Be nice to Dad.”

  Aurex crawled out from the fallen tower, hair wild, eyes wide. He grabbed Caelan’s jacket. “WILL YOU PLEASE STOP PUTTING ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THESE THINGS? PLEASE. LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO MY HAIR. WHY? JUST—WHY, CAEL?”

  Caelan blinked. “It’s not that ba—oh.”

  Aurex turned his head.

  The back of his hair had been sliced clean off.

  “Yeah… sorry, bud.”

  From the forest edge, Keira limped into view. “Is that bitch still crying? Whaa whaa—shut it.”

  Aurex spun on her. “And you!”

  “And me what, bitch?” Keira shot back.

  Aurex deflated instantly. “Nothing.”

  Keira’s eyes went flat. “Nothing what?”

  Aurex swallowed and straightened slightly. “Nothing, Master Sergeant.”

  Elyria, still holding Keira upright, bonked her gently on the head. “Stop being mean, or I’m not going to heal you anymore.”

  Solara turned, her face lighting up like it was Christmas. “How did that happen, Master Sergeant?”

  Keira looked away, pouting. “No… erm… I—”

  Solara stepped closer. “You got reckless and tried that thing I told you to wait on until it was ready, didn’t you, Master Sergeant?”

  “Well, it worked, didn’t it, Lieutenant?” Keira shot back. “And let’s be clear—you should’ve given me more emerald bars, so sort of your fault.”

  Solara folded her arms. “Well, maybe next time you need more emerald bullets, you won’t waste all your emerald spiking my drink.”

  Caelan laughed.

  Solara’s head snapped around like an owl.

  Dead eyes.

  Caelan immediately looked away. “Wait—where’s Chief?”

  Veyra and Garron walked in from the treeline. Veyra gestured lazily. “Your walking death machine is over here. Oh—and I’m fine, thank you very much for asking.”

  Everyone turned.

  All nine feet of Garron stood there, shirtless, jacket slung over one arm, head to toe utterly covered in blood.

  “You all good, Chief?” Caelan asked.

  Garron laughed. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I think I got most of them. You should’ve seen their faces—calling themselves elite.” He snorted. “Nothing more than children with numbers, as usual.” He glanced at Caelan. “Looks like you had fun as well.”

  Caelan sighed. “Wish I had. Boring as hell.”

  Solara cleared her throat pointedly. “Did you forget something, Captain?”

  Caelan turned to the recruits, still standing in shock. “Oh—right. Yes. Well… you all tried. No shame in failing. Better luck next time, eh?”

  Solara thumped him on the top of the head. “BE NICE.”

  Caelan rubbed his scalp. “Man hands. Jesus. Right—who all passed?”

  Jett, Corwin, Lyra, Artimage, and Kaite raised their hands.

  Caelan glanced at Solara. “Just them, Lieutenant?”

  She shook her head in disappointment.

  Caelan sighed. “Fine. I’ll let them join. Fuck, I hate remembering names.”

  Bella smirked. “I heard you learned Elyria’s quick enough.”

  Caelan took a slow breath. “And the rest?”

  “As we expected, Captain,” Solara said.

  “Very well,” Caelan said, turning back to the group. “The rest of you—I’m a man of my word. You can join up with Rexy-baby if you want, or fifty kilos per head for making it this far.”

  Solara’s eyes went wide. “I NEVER SIGNED THAT OFF.”

  Caelan waved it away and smiled at the remaining recruits—wide and unsettling. “And you five.” He laughed. “Grab a jacket from the treeline. Don’t worry about fit. Lance Corporal Lumi will fix it in a blink.”

  Artimage bolted like it was Christmas morning, already halfway up a tree pulling jackets down.

  Katie raised a hand. “Do I need to wear it if I’m in my sleeping bag?”

  “WHY ARE YOU BACK IN THE BACK,” Solara shouted, “AND YES—WHAT DO YOU THINK, SPECIALIST? NOW GO GET IT.”

  Jett stepped into the middle of the group. “Right. Now that you all know what’s going on here—yes, there will be changes, and yes, you will all get a chance to pamper me, but in time—”

  Corwin calmly clamped a hand over Jett’s mouth, smiling. “Thank you very much for having us. We will try our best, sir.”

  Caelan patted Corwin’s shoulder. “I have no doubt, bud.”

  Solara stood a little taller. “One more thing, Captain. Specialist Lyra was outstanding. Exactly what I expect from one of our finest.”

  Lyra appeared instantly, grabbing Solara’s hands. “It was all for you, Lieutenant. I will strive to pursue perfection, as you demonstrate to me and everyone else every single day. You stand as a beacon in the darkness—the hope to all.”

  Veyra walked over and slung an arm around Lyra’s shoulders. “So you actually made it. Maybe don’t kiss the Lieutenant’s arse too much—her ego’s almost as out of control as that idiot over there. Love the jacket even if it is dumb and the least cute jacket ever made.”

  She ruffled Lyra’s hair.

  “Stop it! You’re ruining my hair!” Lyra protested.

  Caelan and Solara stared.

  “I know you’re not talking about me, Sergeant,” Solara said.

  “Hey,” Caelan added, “Mynxi doesn’t have an ego.”

  Mynxi laughed. “Silly Dad. She means you, silly.”

  Caelan grinned. “Oh—silly Dad. I’m such a silly billy.”

  Elyria clapped her hands. “Right. Let’s get a move on. I need a drink.”

  “No,” Solara said immediately. “First, Captain, do it properly as I told you. Then we’re collecting every jacket and weapon they dropped so we can resell them in the stores.”

  A collective groan went up.

  Artimage wandered past, carrying about twenty jackets, handing them out to Jett, Corwin, and Katie.

  “Got enough jackets there, bud.” Caelan said.

  “Well, I need one for morning meetings, one for training, one for—”

  “Fine, fine,” Caelan cut in. “Right, let’s get this over with. So—tonight, party in the plaza. Funded by yours truly.”

  Solara cleared her throat.

  “Funded by us. Everyone in Virelith will be there. So yeah—do us proud, get wrecked, and let’s destroy the plaza properly and good this year.”

  Aurex leapt onto Caelan’s back. “IT’S NOT A CHALLENGE. STOP DESTROYING THE PLAZA.”

  Solara raised an eyebrow. “And?”

  Caelan groaned. “Are you really going to make me say it?”

  “You came up with it,” Solara replied.

  “Yeah—for aura farming in a fight,” Caelan protested. “It’s just—”

  Solara stared him down.

  Keira yelled, “Go on! I’ll only rip you for a week this time!”

  Elyria let go of Keira.

  Keira hit the ground. “You meant that!”

  “Oops,” Elyria said. “Slipped.”

  Caelan sighed. “Right. Lyra, you get in here, too. All five of you are now members of the Revolutionary Army.”

  He straightened slightly. “Our shared motto is the values I wish for us to stand on. In peace we build. In revolution we stand. We are the Revolutionary Army. Now we…”

  Solara suddenly snickered. “NOW WE GET WASTED—WOW. Right, grab as much as you can. Everyone move. Let’s finally get some sleep around here.”

  “You monster!” Caelan shouted.

  Solara wrapped an arm around him. “Oh—and I forgot to say. I’ve had a report. Someone broke into Whaa Whaa’s last night.”

  Caelan froze.

  Solara leaned in. “Know anything about that?”

  “Pfft. No idea,” Caelan said quickly. “I was in the inn next door, remember?”

  “Well, I spoke to Bob before we left, Captain, and he said—”

  “RIGHT,” Caelan barked. “As the Lieutenant said, let’s get a shift on. Party and paperwork won’t wait.”

  Keira shrugged. “I need to hit Whaa Whaa’s on the way home. Think I dropped my scrap bag last night.”

  Solara smiled sweetly at her. “Is that so?”

  Caelan looked down at Mynxi in his arms. “Want to play a game?”

  Mynxi nodded enthusiastically.

  “Okay,” Caelan said. “Let’s play… run away from Auntie Solara before she kills Dad.”

  Solara lunged. “YOU’LL BE PAYING FOR EVERYTHING YOU TOUCHED—DO YOU HEAR ME, CAPTAIN?”