Aot:The Silent Witness

Chapter 21: The Long Road Ahead

The battle was over, but the war wasn't.

Ymir stood in the village square, the wound on her side still steaming as it slowly healed. Around her, villagers gathered, their faces tense with the weight of what they already knew. She had warned them before the fight—Marley's forces weren't just here to raid. They had come to stay. And now that their camp had been wiped out, it was only a matter of time before more soldiers arrived.

Silence hung over the gathered crowd. The people were waiting—for confirmation, for guidance, for hope.

Finally, the elder stepped forward, his weathered face unreadable. "Is it done?"

Ymir nodded. "They're all dead."

A murmur rippled through the villagers. Some looked relieved, others horrified.

"But it won't stop here," she continued. "Marley will realize their men never returned. When they do, they won't send another small force. They'll bring more soldiers. More weapons. Maybe even war machines."

Fear spread like wildfire through the crowd. Whispers filled the air, doubts growing louder.

"They'll kill us all," a woman said.

"Or worse," another muttered.

Lifa stepped forward, her fists clenched. "Then we have to leave."

The elder's expression darkened. "This is our home."

"Home won't matter if we're dead," Lifa shot back. "Ymir just said they'll come back in greater numbers. Do you think we can fight off an entire army?"

The elder's lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn't answer.

"She's right," Ymir said. "I'll fight with you, but even I can't take on an entire army. The wolves won't be enough either. And your people? They're not soldiers. Staying here means staying in a graveyard."

The weight of her words settled over them. The villagers weren't warriors—they were farmers, hunters, and traders. They had survived war by avoiding it.

The elder let out a slow breath. "If we leave, where do we go?"

Silence. Then someone spoke. "North. The mountains."

"They're cold, but they'll slow down any pursuers," Lifa added.

A murmur of agreement passed through the villagers. It wasn't a perfect plan, but it was something.

The elder looked back at Ymir. "Will you come with us?"

Ymir hesitated. Leaving meant abandoning a defensible position. It meant traveling with people who couldn't fight. But it also meant protecting them.

She exhaled. "Yeah. I'll guard you."

A collective sigh of relief spread through the crowd.

"Then we prepare to leave," the elder said. "At first light, we move."

The villagers scattered, gathering supplies and preparing their animals for the long journey.

Ymir turned to Ember, who had been watching silently. His flickering form wavered in the night air.

"Running?" he asked.

"Surviving," Ymir corrected.

Ember smirked. "Call it what you want."

She glanced at the dark treeline, the weight of responsibility settling on her shoulders. She had chosen this path. Now, she had to make sure they all lived to see its end.