By the Fire

Shen and his crew were gathered around a raging campfire just outside the main field to celebrate their hard-earned victory.

Kelly sat with her bow over her shoulder and told a story with a lot of excitement while Toren and Fenix laughed and joked around. Zara, who doesn't often let her guard down, joined in on the fun with a genuine laugh that made the night better. Kael, who never talked while wearing his mask, looked relaxed, as shown by his body language.

The hard training weeks had turned them into a real team, and this victory was more than just a big deal; it showed how much they trusted each other. But Shen felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, even though he looked calm. Being a leader meant more than just helping them win; it also meant protecting them, which often demanded great sacrifices.

Before getting up from his chair, he took a deep breath. He quietly walked up to the edge of the clearing, where Sergeant Raiden was sitting by himself, his shadowy figure against the trees. The sergeant stood still, looking at the fire that was burning. Shen politely walked over and sat down next to him. Neither of them said anything for a long time while the fire burned between them.

Finally, Shen spoke up in a soft but serious voice. We won today, Sergeant. But. "Will I ever be able to do it again?" Shen thought about it and took a deep breath.

Raiden moved a little and nodded in agreement with what Shen had said. "You earned it." He calmly said, "Every one of you," with the weight of hard-earned knowledge in his voice. He said after a pause that you might think that the mistakes you made in combat are a permanent part of your "skin" or something that sticks to you. But don't let that bother you. You will succeed, and when people do, they grow and learn that change is possible in those situations. He sighed and said, "At first, I thought you would be like your brother." But you're not.

Shen raised an eyebrow and smiled a little. "To be honest, I sometimes wonder how we're related."

Raiden laughed dryly. "Geno, your brother... At first, he was different during his training. Even though he was young, he fought like a lion that never gave up, like a predator that never stopped. There was no way to stop his determination, and no one else had as much strength as he did.

Shen said, "Sounds amazing."

"Yes," Raiden said, but his voice got sadder. But there is a cost to being strong. As you climb higher, you see more—the weight of your mistakes and the deaths of your soldiers. You will always remember those times. They leave scars that are deeper than any knife.

As Shen listened to Raiden's serious words, a quiet unease settled over him. He looked down at the floor and said, "I don't think I'll ever be as strong as Geno."

Raiden said with conviction, "Strength alone does not make a great leader." "Shen, real leaders need to be brave and caring. And you know how to be merciful, unlike your brother. You have shown it over and over again.

Shen blinked in surprise at the unexpected praise. It meant more coming from Raiden than any words of congratulations could ever mean. "I have to ask, why would you say that?" Shen's voice had a hint of nervous interest in it.

As Raiden leaned back a little, the firelight made his sharp eyes shine. "Because I've seen how well you work together." I personally chose them, you know. They all have a troubled past that has left scars. You have earned their trust and brought them together, even though they have flaws. I don't think Geno would have given them the same second chances if he were in your shoes, even though he is very smart. Raiden looked at Shen for a moment before turning back to the fire. "His trust comes from what he's been through. You trust because you are inexperienced. You both also help each other grow. It's not right or wrong for either of you. But both can come to conclusions that will help you both grow as people and plan for the future.

As the flames warmed his face, Shen's thoughts turned in on themselves. He thought, "Understanding changes everything." To see someone, a problem, or even yourself for who they really are, you need to do more than just accept things as they are. You need to have the courage to ask questions, change, and always be aware of how things are changing around you. His team had taught him that. They all came with their pain, doubts, and scars. But those same flaws had become their strengths, which changed how he thought about trust and leadership.

Shen nodded slowly as he thought about what Raiden had said. He finally said in a strong voice, "Thank you." "That's very important to me."

As Shen got ready to stand, Raiden's face changed a little, and he spoke again, but this time it was in a warning tone. "Don't get too attached to your team. Tomorrow, you will all be split into pairs and given different tasks.

"Are we going to be apart?" Shen asked, his voice full of worry.

"Yes," Raiden said. "You are not soldiers; you are learning how to be commanders." There need to be leaders in every part of the kingdom. You will all be given different jobs

Shen sighed a long time and nodded as he took it all in. "I understand," he said softly.

Raiden stood with a stern look on his face as he looked down at Shen. He got serious and said, "Shen, remember this." "Be careful. There is no way to go back once you die.

Raiden's last words sent a chill down Shen's spine and brought back memories of the hellish world he had left behind. He couldn't afford to fail, either for his team or for himself. He would do everything he could to stay alive because he had fought his way back before.