The third battle ended with me covered in blood that wasn't mine.
I stood in the middle of the field, breathing hard, my fire flickering weakly around my fingers. Bodies lay everywhere. Monsters. Soldiers. The cost of pushing forward.
"Aria!" Kairos was running toward me. His face was streaked with dirt and gore. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine." I looked down at myself. "Most of this isn't mine."
"Thank the gods." He pulled me into his arms. I could feel his heart pounding. "I saw you go down. I thought..."
"I got back up."
"You always do."
We pulled apart. The soldiers were regrouping behind us, tending to the wounded. The road ahead was clear. For now.
"Kairos, we need to keep moving. The rift is still expanding."
"I know." He looked at the horizon. "But we need rest. Everyone does."
