Chapter 33 – A Restless Night, A Deadly Morning
Night fell with a silence different from usual. Not because of exhaustion, nor from the biting cold against their skin—but from the fear that blanketed every corner of the abandoned building they were holed up in. The dim light of portable lamps did little to dispel the weight pressing down on them all.
Sofia sat cross-legged near a foldable tent in one of the rooms. Altair leaned against the wall, his eyes fixed on the surveillance monitor in his hands. From the upper floor, several team members stood guard, while most of the military personnel sat silently on the opposite side of the room, restless.
Whispers began to rise. Some of the soldiers—those from the central military—no longer hid their frustration and fear.
"I’m telling you, we should just head back! We’re not going to survive here if we stay!"
"He’s right! The reinforcements got annihilated! They’ve abandoned us! Why should we hold out?!"
"Their leaders are insane! That guy and the holy girl care more about resistance than survival!"
Altair let out a low growl of annoyance. He glanced at Sofia, who had her eyes closed, trying to stay calm. But his voice was sharp as he stepped toward the group of increasingly agitated soldiers.
"You think you can just run from Tyrant?" Altair said flatly, his voice cutting through the air. "That creature isn’t some coward like you. He hunts, stalks, and waits. You think you’ll get out of his reach without losing your head?"
"And staying here will save us?" one of them stood up, pointing accusingly. "You saw it! Even the reinforcements couldn’t reach us! We’ve been left to die! I’m not dying because of your obsession!"
Sofia slowly stood. Her face was pale but resolute. "It’s not an obsession. It’s a decision—one to deny the enemy what it wants: fear."
"Fear?" the soldier laughed bitterly. "You’re still talking about bravery and hope? We’re just humans, not heroes!"