One week later...
The academy was quiet.
The sounds of war had disappeared.
Instead...
The sound of hammers echoed through the campus.
Workers rebuilt broken walls.
Students carried bricks.
Teachers repaired the training grounds.
The academy was healing.
Slowly.
But it was healing.
Daniel stood beneath the old oak tree where Mr. Stone used to sit after training.
The wooden practice sword was in his hands.
He swung it once.
Twice.
Again.
Each movement was precise.
Each movement reminded him of his master.
"Your stance is still too stiff."
Daniel smiled faintly.
He almost turned around.
Almost expected to see Mr. Stone standing there with his usual smile.
But no one was there.
Only the wind.
"Training already?"
Daniel looked up.
Felix walked toward him, one arm wrapped in a bandage.
"You should still be resting."
Felix laughed.
"And let you get stronger than me?"
"Never."
For the first time in days...
Daniel laughed.
It wasn't loud.
But it was real.
Felix smiled.
"There you are."
Soon...
Mary, Lucy, Noah, David, Lily, and Zoya joined them.
Noah's injured arm was still supported by a brace.
Lucy looked healthier after finally getting some rest.
David seemed quieter than usual.
The eight friends stood together.
The battlefield was gone.
But the bond they had forged remained.
Mary looked around.
"It feels strange."
"What does?"
"No explosions."
Felix grinned.
"I don't miss those."
Everyone chuckled softly.
Meanwhile...
Inside the Headmaster's office...
Bill stood beside the large window.
He stared at the rebuilt courtyard.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Daniel entered.
"You wanted to see me?"
Bill nodded.
"Sit."
Daniel sat across from him.
For several moments...
Neither spoke.
Finally...
Bill opened an old wooden box.
Inside were dozens of dusty files.
Some were centuries old.
He placed one folder on the desk.
Across the front was written:
CLASSIFIED
Daniel looked confused.
"What is this?"
Bill took a deep breath.
"I promised Stone..."
"...that when the war ended..."
"...I'd stop hiding the truth."
Daniel's heart began racing.
Bill slowly slid the file toward him.
On the first page...
A single photograph.
A little girl.
Smiling.
About twelve years old.
Daniel's hands trembled.
"...Ava."
Bill nodded.
"Yes."
Daniel looked at him.
"So..."
"...she really is alive?"
Bill closed his eyes.
"I don't know."
Daniel froze.
"What?"
"I know she didn't die that day."
Silence.
"But after she was taken..."
"...we lost all trace of her."
Daniel's breathing became uneven.
"So everything..."
"...everything I've believed..."
"...was a lie?"
Bill lowered his head.
"I lied."
"I've regretted it every day."
Daniel stood up.
Anger flashed across his face.
"You let me mourn my own sister!"
"You watched me cry for years!"
Bill didn't defend himself.
"I know."
Daniel slammed both hands onto the desk.
"WHY?!"
Bill looked directly into his eyes.
"Because if they had known..."
"...that she was still alive..."
"...they would have killed you too."
The room fell silent.
Daniel slowly stepped back.
His anger faded into confusion.
"What do you mean?"
Bill reached into the wooden box again.
This time...
He removed an ancient map.
Across the center was a symbol Daniel had never seen before.
Bill placed one finger on it.
"This..."
"...is where Ava was taken."
Daniel stared at the map.
"Where is it?"
Bill answered with two words.
"The Forgotten Kingdom."
The room became silent.
Outside...
Dark clouds slowly gathered beyond the mountains.
Far away...
Inside a ruined fortress...
A young woman slowly opened her eyes.
Ancient chains surrounded her.
A strange glowing seal covered her left arm.
She looked out through the broken window.
Then whispered...
"...Daniel."
To Be Continued...