Capítulo 17: Chapter 17: A Fragile Alliance
As the last of the sorcerer's soldiers disappeared into the depths of the forest, a heavy silence fell over the battlefield. Alucard wiped the sweat and blood from his brow, his chest rising and falling with the effort of the fight. Around him, his companions were regrouping, their faces showing the wear of battle but also the quiet triumph of victory.
Garret pulled his sword free from the body of the fallen commander, his gaze steady and resolute. "It's over," he said, his voice rough but steady. "For now."
Seraphina emerged from the shadows, her bow slung over her shoulder, a grim expression on her face. "We've dealt a blow to the sorcerer's forces, but they'll regroup. They always do."
Alucard nodded. "This was only a small piece of his army. We've slowed them down, but the war is far from over."
Jasper sheathed his daggers, his normally playful demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness. "Reyna will want to hear about this. We'll need her and the Ironwood hunters to move quickly if we're to stay ahead of the sorcerer's next move."
The Ironwood scouts who had accompanied them throughout the mission were now watching closely, their expressions unreadable. They had seen the way Alucard and his companions had fought, how they had taken down the enemy commander and seized victory in a seemingly impossible situation. Whether it was enough to earn Reyna's trust remained to be seen.
One of the scouts stepped forward, her eyes scanning the battlefield before locking on Alucard. "You fought well," she said in a low voice. "But Reyna will decide if it was enough."
Alucard nodded, his gaze steady. "Take us to her."
The journey back to the Ironwood camp was quieter than the journey out. The weight of what had just occurred lingered heavily on all of them. Alucard couldn't shake the feeling that they were on borrowed time. Every small victory they won felt like it was offset by the looming darkness of the sorcerer's growing power.
When they reached the camp, Reyna was already waiting. She stood at the edge of the clearing, arms crossed, her expression unreadable as she watched them approach. The Ironwood hunters around her were tense, waiting for her judgment.
"You're back," Reyna said, her voice neutral, though her sharp eyes betrayed her curiosity. "And from the look of you, it seems you succeeded."
Garret stepped forward. "The outpost is destroyed. The commander is dead. Their forces retreated."
Reyna tilted her head slightly, considering the information. "And you expect that to be enough to gain our trust?"
"We did what you asked," Alucard said, his voice calm but firm. "But this is about more than just trust. You've seen the threat. You know what's coming. The sorcerer won't stop at the Ironwood, and your hunters won't be able to stand alone."
The silence stretched for a long moment. Reyna's eyes flickered between each of them, her sharp gaze lingering on Alucard. Finally, she spoke.
"You've proven yourselves capable," she said slowly, her voice carrying the weight of her decision. "The Ironwood hunters will join your cause. But make no mistake—we don't fight for glory, and we don't fight for hope. We fight for survival. If you fail, we will walk away. We won't die for a cause that has no chance."
Alucard held her gaze. "We won't fail."
Reyna gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Then we're with you—for now."
The fragile alliance had been formed, but Alucard knew there was no time to rest. The Ironwood hunters were powerful allies, but they would only be the first. If they were to stand a chance against the sorcerer, they would need more.
Much more.
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