Kyle and his group clung to the slim hope of taking their share of supplies and finding another way out through the caverns. Even if the chances were slim, it was better than knowingly walking down a dead end with no way back.
Rhydian turned pale with fury. He clenched his fists, wanting to berate them. But when he looked at the comrades he’d fought alongside and saw the fear in their eyes, the harsh words died in his throat. He was just as terrified, but duty and loyalty held him back.
“You… How could you do this?” Judith snapped, her voice tight with frustration as she stamped her foot. “Her Highness has treated you well, and now you would turn tail at the first sign of danger?”
Grace looked at the men before her, tears and snot running down their faces as they pleaded desperately. Her heart was a whirlpool of conflicting emotions. There was disappointment, the chill of betrayal, but even more than that, there was a deep sorrow and helplessness.
She understood their fear. If even a legend like Ysolde regarded the path ahead as a dead end, who wouldn’t be terrified?
It wasn’t that the guards were disloyal, but the relentless horror and the deaths of their comrades had simply crushed their will to survive
Grace took a deep breath, forcing back the sting in her nose. Though her voice was somewhat hoarse, it was exceptionally clear.
“Fine. Since you want to leave, I won’t force you to stay.”
At those words, Kyle, Tyson, Slate, and the others felt a surge of joy.
Grace walked over to the pile of remaining supplies and took stock silently. There were still five pouches of clean water, some dried rations, and a box of healing tablets sitting off to the side.
She picked up three pouches of water and a decent portion of the rations. Then, from the tablet box, she took out a few common wound salves and antidote pills, then carefully wrapped them in cloth. She turned around and handed the bundle to Tyson.
“Your Highness!”
Judith and Rhydian cried out in unison. Grace waved them off, stopping their protest. She looked at Kyle and the others with a complicated expression.
“Everyone has their own path, and I can’t force you. Since you’ve made up your mind to leave, I won’t keep you here. Take these supplies with you, and I hope they’ll help you find a way to survive.”
The men froze. They hadn’t expected her to agree so readily, let alone to willingly give them precious supplies. For a moment, shame, gratitude, and an even more profound sense of confusion welled up in their hearts.
“Your Highness, I…” Tyson began, his voice catching as he accepted the heavy pack with trembling hands.
“Say no more,” Grace interrupted him, a note of weariness in her voice. “Just remember that no matter what lies ahead, stay alive. If you make it back to Oakvale safely, check on my father for me and see if he is well.”
Her words made Tyson and the others hang their heads in shame, unable to look her in the eye.
Grace then turned her gaze to Cyprian, the guard with one arm. “What about you? If you wish to leave, now is the time. You can also get a share of the supplies.”
Cyprian’s cloudy eyes looked at her, then at his empty sleeve. Finally, he gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
He said hoarsely, “In this state, I’m a dead man no matter where I go. I might as well follow you, Your Highness. At least, my death might mean something.”
He chose to stay. Perhaps it was resignation to fate, or maybe it was one last show of loyalty to Grace.
The other two guards hesitated for a long time. They glanced at their comrades, who were determined to leave, then at Dustin, whose calm expression revealed nothing.
In the end, the two gritted their teeth and stepped over to stand beside Rhydian, choosing to stay. Tyson, Kyle, Slate, Severin Lucent, and Darius Wayland took the supplies Grace had given them and saluted her.
They cast guilty looks at the rest of their comrades before turning and walking with heavy steps toward another passage in the cavern. Soon, they disappeared into the dark tunnel.
Only seven people remained in the cave-Grace, Judith, Dustin, Rhydian, the one-armed Cyprian, and the two other guards who had chosen to stay. 2
The atmosphere was still thick with despair, but the tension of the standoff had broken, replaced by a grim and tragic resolve.
Dustin, who had remained silent throughout the entire exchange, slowly opened his eyes. His gaze lingered on Grace for a moment, and a barely perceptible hint of approval flickered in his expression.
He didn’t comment on those who had left. Instead, he said indifferently, “Everyone has their own path. Forcing them to stay serves no purpose. Those with weak resolve would only become liabilities if they stayed.”
Grace nodded and understood the principle. Letting them leave was both a magnanimous act and a way to eliminate the weak links.
“Let’s rest for a while, then we’ll move on, “Grace said calmly, though it now carried a newfound resolve born from making difficult choices. “The road ahead is dangerous. But since we’ve chosen this path, we have to see it through.”
Dustin gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod and closed his eyes again, returning to his meditative state. He knew the real trial had just begun.
