The Pursuit

The Azeron Citadel’s strategy chamber was thick with tension. General Seraphus, Commander Vaelis, Commander Thalor, and Instructor Darius stood with other guardians around the central table. Their faces were drawn as they reviewed maps of Azeron and surrounding regions, taking in the grim details of the recent attack. Rei was silent, his fists clenched at his sides.

General Seraphus broke the silence, his voice hard. “The Red Clan breached our defenses as if they knew our every move, and we’ve lost five recruits in the carnage.” His gaze narrowed. “Among them, a human wielding Lumina, something I would’ve thought impossible.”

Commander Thalor nodded slowly, brows furrowing. “A human with Lumina should not be possible. And yet… he fought alongside our recruits and matched the best of them in skill. The Red Clan may already know, if not from the rumors circulating Chromaris, then from the boy’s blood left on the field.”

Instructor Darius frowned, crossing his arms. “This means our losses are more than just recruits. If Renjiro falls into the wrong hands, the implications could be catastrophic. They’ll see him as a weapon, a prize to control.”

Commander Vaelis glanced at Rei, her tone cautious. “Rei, I noticed you were… prepared to defend Renjiro on more than one occasion. How much did you know about his nature?”

Rei hesitated, a slight unease flickering in his gaze. “I… knew he was human,” he admitted, his voice tense. “I kept it hidden, even from the Council. I didn’t know if it was wise to reveal such an anomaly when there was so much we didn’t understand about him—or his abilities.”

"Rei...," Commander Thalor whispered with concern.

General Seraphus’s eyes had a focused frown. “You knew? And yet you chose to conceal something so vital from your leaders?”

Rei clenched his fists. “ General, I thought it was safer this way. Renjiro had already endured so much loss. I was trying to protect the boy—”

“Loss?” Seraphus’s voice rose, his temper slipping. “The stakes go beyond a single recruit’s suffering, Rei. You concealed critical information. You placed us all at risk!”

Rei took a step back, guilt etched into his face. “I understand the consequences, General. But I believed that, until we understood his nature and power, exposing him to those who might exploit him—or worse, fear him. We all know our history with the humans.”

Seraphus’s voice grew even colder. “And in withholding that knowledge, you may have unwittingly led him directly into the hands of those who would do just that. We were infiltrated because you failed to detect a tracking device on a Red Clan commander—and now, due to your misjudgment, Renjiro is out there, a target on his back, leaving a dangerous mystery in his wake.”

Rei’s head bowed. “I… take full responsibility.”

Seraphus’s gaze lingered on Rei, unyielding. After a moment, he straightened and addressed the group. “This situation is critical. The Red Clan knows we’re vulnerable, and they’ll undoubtedly pursue Renjiro. We need to retrieve him before the Red Clan—or any syndicate in Chromaris—has the chance to seize him.”

Commander Vaelis nodded, her face resolute. “General, allow me to go. Instructor Darius and I can track Renjiro and the others, following whatever trace we find. If there’s any sign of them, we’ll bring them home.”

Seraphus raised a hand. “ You two are indeed best suited to this mission. You will set out at first light. Our objective is to recover Renjiro and the other recruits—alive and safe.”

Rei took a sharp step forward, his tone pleading. “General, with respect… let me go as well. I can find him; I trained him, and I’m partly to blame for the risks he now faces. Allow me to make this right.”

Seraphus met Rei’s gaze, his face stern and unyielding. “You’ve done enough, Rei. You chose to shield him from scrutiny, and now we’re all suffering the consequences of that decision. For now, you will remain here and continue your duties within the Citadel.”

The rebuke landed heavily, and Rei nodded, shame shadowing his face. He watched as Vaelis and Darius prepared for their orders, a mixture of frustration and regret tightening in his chest.

Instructor Darius adjusted his gear, his eyes flicking to Rei with a measure of sympathy. “We’ll do everything in our power to bring them back.”

Commander Thalor placed a hand on Rei’s shoulder. “I know you acted out of a sense of protection. But we can’t afford to take any more risks, not with the Red Clan’s aggression growing.”

Seraphus dismissed them, his voice final. “Find Renjiro. Secure him. And keep this from spiraling further out of our control.”

With a final nod, Darius and Vaelis departed the chamber, leaving Rei in the tense silence. He watched them go, feeling the weight of his decision heavier than ever, knowing that any mistake now could mean the difference between Renjiro’s survival and his ruin.