Trials of Destiny: Way of The Sword

As the caravan lurched forward, Brom lit a smoke, the orange ember casting fleeting shadows across his face. "So… how was Valor's Reach?" he asked, glancing back with a curious grin. "Been over a year since I last saw you all."

The group responded with a collective sigh, avoiding his gaze, their silence thick with unspoken memories. The only sound was the cart's wheels grinding over the rocky path, as if even the land itself bore witness to the weight they carried.

Brom took a slow drag, his gaze drifting into the distance. "Must've been one hell of a place," he muttered, almost to himself. "People don't walk out of Valor's Reach the same. They come back with scars you can't see."

Jin's eyes flickered toward him, a shadow of something unreadable crossing his face. "Valor's Reach changes you," he said quietly, his tone laced with a hint of regret. "Not always for the better."

Kael, who had been staring out at the endless stretch of trees, finally spoke, his voice almost hollow. "Parts of us didn't make it back."

Brom let out a low whistle, flicking his smoke into the dust. "Well, you're here now," he said with a nod of understanding. "Just remember—if you're headed for the Lion Clan ruins, best leave whatever happened at Valor's Reach behind. Some places… don't take kindly to haunted souls."

Jin's gaze narrowed at Brom's words, but he said nothing, the exhaustion from their journey pulling him toward sleep. Leaning his head against Luna's shoulder, he closed his eyes, finally allowing himself a moment's rest.

Luna felt his weight settle against her, and for a brief moment, her usual sharpness softened. She brushed a strand of hair from his face, her fingers lingering just a second longer than necessary as she caught a rare glimpse of him unguarded. A faint smile touched her lips, a sight almost as rare as the expression on his sleeping face.

Riven broke the silence, glancing over at Brom. "So… this Lion Clan place—is it really worth going out of our way?"

Kade sat up from where he'd been lying on the floor of the caravan, shrugging. "It's what Jin wants, so why not? We don't exactly have other plans. Besides… he's been the one holding us together."

Kael snorted, though there was a trace of a smile on his lips. "Holding us together? If by that you mean dragging us through a forest of ki beasts, nearly getting us killed, shattering bones, and spending months recovering just to dive back into more trouble… then yeah, he's done a damn good job holding us together."

Despite his tone, there was an undeniable respect in his voice. Brom chuckled quietly, watching them with a mixture of amusement and admiration. "Sounds like you've got quite the bond."

As the caravan rolled deeper into the wilderness, silence settled over them once more, each of them lost in thought, bracing themselves for the darkness awaiting them at the ruins.

Luna shifted slightly as Jin's head rested on her shoulder, her gaze drifting over him with an unexpected softness. The rare, unguarded expression on his face tugged at something within her, a side of him that few ever saw. She brushed a strand of hair from his face and then pulled her hand away quickly, as if aware of the others watching.

Kade noticed her moment of tenderness and smirked. "Getting attached, Luna?" he teased.

Luna shot him a look, her tone sharp but playful. "Don't push it, Kade. You could use a bit more attachment yourself—if you even know what that means."

Riven chuckled, leaning back against the side of the cart. "I think that's her way of saying she cares. Never thought I'd see the day."

Luna rolled her eyes, though a slight smile played at the corner of her lips. "Just because I'm not as… sentimental as the rest of you doesn't mean I don't care," she replied, her voice softening. Her gaze flicked down to Jin, then quickly away. "I just show it differently."

Kael crossed his arms, his tone laced with amusement. "Differently? Is that what we're calling it now?"

She smirked, crossing her legs and settling back. "Call it what you want. I know what I'm here for—and who I'm here for."

The words lingered in the air, drawing a contemplative silence over the group. Luna leaned back, eyes drifting to the passing trees as she let herself relax, her hand instinctively resting near Jin as if ready to shield him, should the need arise.

Brom, seated at the front of the cart, gave a sidelong glance at their exchange, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He kept quiet, his thoughts to himself, content to let them talk as he guided the cart through the winding road.

Kade, sensing the quiet resolve settling over the group, broke the silence. "Guess we're all in this together, then—cursed place or not."

The sun began to sink lower, painting the sky in deep hues of purple and orange as the caravan traveled down the winding path. Hours passed in quiet, the only sounds the crunch of wheels over gravel and the faint rustle of leaves. Kael, Riven, and Kade had succumbed to sleep, exhausted from the day's journey. Luna, too, let her guard down, leaning her head softly against Jin's as her eyes fluttered closed.

Brom watched the scene with a faint smile. He took a slow drag from his cigarette, savoring the peaceful moment. But then, his relaxed demeanor shifted as he felt something—a strange, almost menacing presence just beyond his line of sight, lurking in the shadows along the road.

Brom's eyes narrowed, and without a second thought, he gathered his ki, letting it rise within him like a storm held barely in check. Then, in one sharp breath, he unleashed it. His ki exploded outward in an intense wave, crackling with power as it swept across the forest. The air grew dense, the pressure almost suffocating as Brom's energy surged forward, radiating with an unmistakable force.

Leaves were torn from branches, spiraling wildly in the wake of Brom's release. The caravan groaned as if it, too, could feel the weight of his unleashed power. The strange presence recoiled, disappearing as Brom's energy cut through the silence, scattering any threats that might be lingering ahead.

With a smirk, Brom reined his ki back in, feeling the air settle once more. He glanced over his shoulder to see that Kael, Riven, Kade, and Luna were still deep in slumber, oblivious to the brief but powerful display.

"Damn," he murmured to himself with a low chuckle, taking another drag from his cigarette. "Still got it, don't I?"

He flicked the ash into the dust and continued, his voice soft as he looked over at Jin and the others. "Not that you'd know, kid, but watching over you ain't exactly a walk in the park. Can't have you getting us all killed while you're off dreaming… at least i'm doing my job though."

Brom chuckled to himself, flicking the remains of his cigarette into the dirt as he turned his gaze back to the road, scanning the path ahead. Even with his ki quietly simmering beneath the surface, he kept his senses sharp, ever vigilant as the caravan rolled forward into the night.