Chapter 186. Why does it hurt so much?
On the northern edge of the forest, where Leo, Lucian, Erin, and Duke Alric were sitting on logs with tense expressions on their faces, the glow from the campfire created flickering shadows.
The names scratched in the dirt were poked by Leo’s stick. "Velmera and Rin are actually the primary targets of the cult."
The crackle of the fire filled the stunned silence as Lucian and Alric froze. Leo continued, his red eyes fixed on the floor. "The forest mercenaries are not as strong as the thirty people in the camp. They pose a much greater threat."
With shock and rage, Lucian’s voice cracked. "Why Velmera? Why Rin? What did they do to deserve this?" He leaned forward, his hands clenched into fists, his gray eyes blazing.
Even though a silent rage burned beneath his tone, Leo’s hold on the stick tightened. "They’re not interested in their deaths. They plan to capture them."
Anger flushed Lucian’s face as he leaped to his feet. "Kidnap them? And you’re just sitting there, completely relaxed? Velmera needs to leave right now!" His boots crunched on the forest floor as he walked toward the camp.
He was stopped by Erin’s sharp, imposing voice. "Look at your brother, Lucian. Do you think he is at ease?"
Lucian stopped and turned around, frowning. Erin’s violet eyes moved to Leo, who was staring at Rin’s name in the dirt with a faintly trembling hand that betrayed his anger beneath his composed exterior.
Lucian and Alric followed her gaze, noticing the subtle shake in Leo’s fingers.
Leo looked them in the eye. "Lucian, sending them away won’t work. Almost every home in Valenwood was under the Cult’s control. The emperor himself was involved. We can’t hide them forever—it’ll only make them bigger targets"
Lucian’s rage turned to frustration as his shoulders drooped. "So, what is the strategy? We cannot simply wait for them to take them both away."