The crowd of kneeling villagers parted slightly as the hooded girl stepped forward.
Her legs trembled.
Her breathing hitched.
But she walked anyway—one shaky step after another—until she stood alone in front of everyone.

Ashren felt his heart slam against his ribs.

It's her… the girl from the inn…

Hands trembling, she reached up and pulled back her hood.

Her dark hair spilled out.
Her tired eyes, the same ones Ashren had seen just a day before, shimmered with terror and desperation.

Gasps rippled through the kneeling villagers.

The leader finally lowered his weapon slightly, tilting his head in amusement.

“So,” he said softly,
“the little runaway princess finally shows herself.”

The girl swallowed hard, voice breaking.

“Please… don’t harm anyone,” she whispered.
“I’ll come with you. I’ll go wherever you want. Just… just leave this village alone.”

The leader chuckled. A cold, sharp sound that made the villagers flinch.

“Oh my,” he mocked,
“now you’re commanding me like a royal princess.”

He stepped closer, his boots crunching against the ash.
The teenage girl he held hostage trembled on her knees as his gun remained pointed at her head.

“Do you think I am your servant?” he asked.
“Do you think I obey your words?”

The princess shook her head quickly, tears forming.

“N-no—please— I’m begging you. I’ll obey anything you say… anything… just spare this village.”
Her voice cracked, desperate.
“I won’t run away again. I swear it. Please…”

The leader leaned down beside the hostage, tightening his grip on the weapon.

“You still expect mercy from me?” he hissed.
“You need to learn a lesson, little princess.”

Ashren felt something snap inside him.

His fists tightened in the ash.
His breath grew shallow.

No. No no no…
This isn’t right.
She shouldn’t have to beg.
She shouldn’t have to suffer for them.

He forced himself to stay on his knees, but his entire body trembled with rage.

The children beside him clung to his sleeves, shaking.
His friend whispered urgently:

“Ashren… stay down… they’ll kill us…”

But Ashren’s eyes were locked on the princess.

I have to help her.
I have to… but how?

His mind raced.

The Night Hunters were too strong.
Too many.
If he moved recklessly, they would kill the villagers first.
If he attacked the leader, the hostage girl would die instantly.
If he shouted, they would silence him forever.

He felt trapped.
Helpless.
Burning from the inside.

His uncle’s final words echoed in his head.

Be a better man…

Ashren grit his teeth, heart pounding painfully in his chest.

I want to save her.
But I don’t know how.
Not yet.
Not like this.

The leader tightened his grip on the hostage girl’s hair, lifting her face.

“Princess,” he said coldly,
“this village will suffer because of your foolishness.”

The princess raised her hands, tears spilling down her cheeks.

“Please! Stop! Please—I’m here now—don’t hurt her—don’t hurt anyone—!!”

Her voice cracked, raw with terror.

Ashren’s nails dug into the dirt.

I have to save her…
I have to…
Just give me one chance…

His entire body trembled as the leader prepared to act.

To be continued…

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