Withthosewords，thesoldier’seyesclosed，astill.HanFenglingstood，hisjawsetierminatiotothecapital.IftheDarkLordtakesit，theentirekingdomwillfall.”

HanFenglinglookedather，hisexpressiontender.“Ido.Idreamofaworldwhereweliveinpeace，withoutfearordarkness.Aworldwherewebuildafuturetogether.”

Sukienodded，herresolveunwavering.“Thenwehavenotimetowaste.Weogatherouralliesaothecapitalimmediately.”

Onenight，astheycampedbyariver，SukieandHanFenglingsatbythefire，theirhandsiwiheflickeringfmescastawarmglowontheirfaces，andforamoment，theyallowedthemselvestorexandenjoyeachother’spany.

“Doyoueverwonderwhatlifewillbelikeafterallthisisover?”Sukieaskedsoftly，hereyesreflegthefirelight.

Thesoldier’seyesflickered，hisstrengthfading.“Thecapital…hewantstotakethecapital.”

Sukie’sheartswelledwithlove.“Idreamofthattoo.AndIbelievewemakeitareality.”

HanFenglingleanedi

neon，somethingpowerful.Youhavetostophim…beforeit’stoote.”

Sukiekdown，pgahandonMei’sshoulder.“You’reverybrave，Mei.We’llneedallthehelpweget.Butremember，yoursafetyisthemostimportantthing.Stayclosetous，andwe’llgetthroughthistogether.”

“Wewillhelpyouinanywaywe.emaybesmall，butwehavebravemenandwomenwillingtofightforthekingdom.”

“Iwanttohelp，”shesaidfirmly.“I’mnotafraid.Iwanttofightformyfamilyandforeveryoneelsewhohassuffered.”

Astheysetoutforthecapital，asenseencypropelledthemforward.Thejourneywaslongandarduous，buttheirdeterminationneverwavered.Alongtheway，theyenteredroupsofvilgersandrebelswhojoiheircause，swellingtheirranksandbolsteringtheirspirits.

Touchedbytheiroffer，SukieandHanFenglingthahevilgersandbeganmakingpreparationsforthejourneyahead.Mei，sensingthegravityofthesituation，approachedSukie，hereyeswidewithdetermination.

Thevilgers，overhearingtheversatioomurmuramongstthemselves.Fearanduaintyrippledthroughthecrowd，buttherewasalsoasenseofdetermination.Thevilgeleadersteppedforward，hisvoicesteady.

Sukie’sheartraced.“Whereishepnningtoattack?”