The air in the tent was thick with tension, Seraphina's aura still pressing against the canvas walls like a held breath. Her eyes were locked on Celine's mocking smile.
She didn't lower her sword.
"Franc." Her voice was calm, but it carried the unmistakable ring of command. "Take the others. Fall back to Melium. Report everything we've learned. I want a full account of the demons' betrayal delivered to the crown."
Franc's composure cracked, just for a second. His hand, still resting on his sword hilt, trembled with the effort of holding back. "But Commander—"
"That's an order, Franc."
Bianca's hands still glowed with the soft golden light of her healing spell, Kloss's breathing slowly steadying beneath her touch.
"But what about you, Commander? We can't just leave you here alone!"
Reith stepped forward, his long hair catching the dim light as his hand moved to the hilt of his blade.
