The setting: Silverpeak, recovery period, was a necessary respite purchased at immense cost. The chaos and danger of the demon cult were replaced by the sterile quiet of the Guild’s best recovery ward. The immediate aftermath was defined by silence, exhaustion, and intense political scrutiny.
Three days passed before Kai finally stirred. He was alive, but barely. His body was a wreck, and his mana core was so thoroughly depleted by the counter-ritual that his internal energy felt like a frayed thread. Kai was recovering from ritual backlash, his true identity now visibly stabilized by the Illusion Magic he managed to maintain even in his sleep.
While Kai recovered, the true battle was being fought in the Guild Master’s chambers. Guild Master Volund debriefed the surviving squad members—C
