Chapter 26: The Giant Tree

The mine seemed endless. Every step echoed with their breath and the dull sound of the torches burning slowly. Ren ran ahead, the soldiers behind him struggling to keep up, but no one wanted to slow down: the air itself screamed that there was no time to lose.

When they finally reached the end of the tunnel, their hopes were instantly dashed. In front of them was neither Cedric nor the miners... only a huge ditch, an opening that descended into the ground like the throat of a beast. It was not a simple hole: a precisely dug tunnel clearly led to the outside of the mountain.

The young man stopped abruptly, clenching his teeth. His voice was low, scratched with bitterness:

“They thought of everything...”

At his side, the soldier who had told Cedric's story a moment earlier took a step forward. He didn't seem frightened, but his eyes glowed with barely contained anger. "Listen! Some of you go back and check the perimeter of the mountain. Every passage, every path. They can't be far!"

“Yes, sir!” replied some, running off.

The man then turned to him, and for the first time his face hinted at a bitter smile. “You know, I'm the deputy chief... but looking at you, it almost seems like the role belongs to you. Ha ha...”

The boy stared at him, taken aback, then looked down with a weary half-smile. “I didn't know you were the deputy. Thank you... but I don't think I have what it takes.”

“But it did.” The other man bowed his head slightly, as a sign of gratitude. “If it weren't for you, I would have given up. But now we know that Cedric isn't dead... not yet.”

Ren turned toward the opening in the ground. Inside, the torch cast a faint glow, as if swallowed by darkness. “Yeah... but who could have expected such a move? They planned every detail.”

“It was written.” The deputy nodded bitterly. “Just think about one thing: if they had really been our allies, they would never have asked who the leader was. They should have already known.”

The boy clenched his fists. “You're right... we were naive. And now Cedric is a prisoner. Why him? Because the leader knows the village better than anyone else. If they want information, he's the one who can give it to them. And with his children waiting for him... they might be able to make him talk.”

Those words fell like stones. The man looked down, his hands trembling, his eyes reddened. A tear rolled down his cheek without him trying to stop it.

The young man watched him for a moment, then tried to break the oppressive silence. “By the way... I don't even know your name. I'm Ren.”

The soldier looked up, quickly wiping his face with his arm. “You're right, kid. I'm Adrian.”

He nodded. “Okay, Adrian. How about we go down this tunnel together?”

The man took a deep breath, trying to calm the frantic beating in his chest. “O-okay. Let's go.”

And so, one after another, they descended into darkness, followed by a few soldiers who still had the courage to follow them. Darkness enveloped them immediately, thick, as if the world itself were holding its breath in anticipation of what awaited them.

The tunnel seemed endless. No exit in sight, only darkness and the muffled sound of their footsteps echoing off the damp walls. The ground, however, told a different story: fresh footprints marked the direction, confirming their suspicions.

“We have to keep going straight.” Adrian's voice broke the silence, and the group continued, slowly and cautiously, as if a trap could spring at any moment. But the passage proved surprisingly safe.

They walked for a long time until, at the end of the tunnel, a faint light began to filter through. It was a dim glow, but enough to rekindle their hope.

“Look... the exit!” said one of the soldiers, quickening his pace. The others immediately followed him, their legs trembling but without giving in to fear.

When the boy crossed the opening and looked up, he stood still. In front of him stood a colossal tree, its crown lost in the sky. A shiver ran down his spine.

“Wait... I've seen this tree before.”

The memory struck him suddenly: it was the same tree he had noticed behind the mountain and ignored. The mistake burned like a wound.

“Ren, hurry up!” Adrian called, but his voice seemed distant. The boy was already trapped in his thoughts, tormented by guilt.

“Ren!” the man insisted, louder.

“Y-yes... I'm coming.” He turned abruptly, struggling to hide his remorse.

Adrian nodded, sighing. “Now we know where they went. Let's go back to the village and discuss it with the chief.”

Some soldiers, however, stepped forward. “Sir, we can't let them get away like this! We should chase after them right away.”

Adrian hesitated, his gaze fixed on the forest. “Maybe you're right...”

“Stop!” Ren's voice cut them off sharply. Everyone turned to him. “What if that's exactly what they want? To lure us into their village, ambush us, and wipe us all out in one fell swoop? Don't you understand that this could be a trap?”

Silence fell for a few moments, broken only by the wind rustling through the leaves of the trees.

The deputy chief stared at him grimly, then nodded slowly. “...You're right. First a plan, then action.”

“Exactly. Let's go back. We have two days, and then we'll set out again with a clear strategy.”

A murmur of discontent rippled through the soldiers. “But sir...”

“No complaints.” Adrian raised his voice authoritatively. “We're going back, and this time we'll be prepared.”

The young man remained behind, his gaze fixed on the imposing tree that filtered light from above. He clenched his fists as a thought gnawed at him.

It's all my fault. I'm sorry, Cedric... we'll do everything we can to bring you home.

“Ren, let's go!” Adrian called to him.

Taking a deep breath, the boy turned and joined them. Once outside the mine, Adrian quickly explained the situation to those who had stayed behind, and without further hesitation, the group set off again. No stops, no distractions: their only goal was to save Cedric.