Spiritbound [Spirit Magic, Military, Progression] (Book 1 Complete)

Raindrops fell through the smoke-filled air, hissing as they struck the smoldering timbers below. Each bead of water met the flames before vanishing into steam. Under the crumbling buildings and collapsing rooftops was a silence that filled the men's hearts. They watched the war machine release a low groan, slumping its shoulders as its body fell slightly forward. The metallic shield in the colossus's hand dug into the stone tiles. Barely holding the fallen giant upright.

Tucker stood before the mana container and didn't say a thing. He glanced to the side, where his men were. They were all waiting for a sign. A signal that they had won. Something he couldn't bring himself to do—and how could he? After seeing what the Empire had done, what he just did… how could Tucker raise his head?

His eyes lingered on the child's lifeless body. He knew the horrors of war, but witnessing it firsthand was another story. Tucker's hands trembled as he wiped the blood off his blade, guiding it back into its sheath. The iron slid against the leather. Leaving behind a sorrow that marked the end of this battle. He buried the pain in his heart as shouts erupted throughout the plaza.

The defender's cheers were filled with joy, and he couldn't blame them. They had been through hell and back. Fought through countless battles that seemed hopeless and had accomplished an achievement many would deem impossible. They were the first ones to take down the Empire's war machine. A historic monument of magic engineering.

Yet, only a hollow pain remained that dulled his senses. Tucker stared at the pitiful child, who fought with every fiber of his being to survive. The magic circles etched into the inner walls of the device were all done with deliberate care to maximize the efficiency of mana currents. None were used to protect the child, and the burnt flesh on his skin was proof of that.

"What… what the hell is this?"

The sheer disbelief in Luka's voice pulled Tucker's gaze. His friend stood shoulder to shoulder with him, staring into the heart of the mana device while Ray covered his mouth in disgust. He fought back the urge to vomit as the other captains drew closer. All of them could see what had happened. What the captain of the Thirty-First had to do and none could blame him.

Max held his breath. His expression hardened with each fleeting second. He had seen many horrors in his life, but not one like this. A wave of hatred filled his heart as he burned the sight into his mind. "They've crossed a fucking line."

All the men silently agreed. To discover the truth behind the war machines filled their hearts with grief. In no world should a child be put through such torment. The bloody claw marks inside the container. The restraints tied to the child's wrists and ankles. Every detail in the mana device told a tale of the boy's desperate attempts to escape.

Even Ray, the hardheaded one of the group, felt remorse. They were fighting a war of annihilation, but he never imagined something like this would happen. He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. Before he was a soldier, he was a brother. And the thought of his younger siblings being used for such experiments lit a flame within his soul.

"If you need a reason to fight, this would be it," Ray said while gritting his teeth. He slammed his fist against the steel plates on the golem. The clang echoed in their ears as his voice cracked with fury. "To stop shit like this from happening!"

Luka softly gazed at the mana device. "That means there's at least six more of these… children… on the battlefield."

"I'm afraid so," Tucker replied.

He saw the frustration and fear emerging from Ray's eyes, and he understood. They all did. This war was far greater than just the existence of their kingdom, but also for the lives of those beyond their borders. There was no telling how many children the Empire sacrificed, and the thought scared him.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Tucker tightly clenched his fists at his side to stop the trembling. He couldn't let his emotions cloud his judgment, even if it was justified. The Empire's forces were closing in, and from the crimson banners fluttering over the inner walls. They were only moments away. His eyes met Brian's, who was torn upon seeing the sight.

Everything the Empire had done betrayed the Sword Master's code. A decree that all knights of the Everheart Kingdom followed. To live a just life meant protecting those who couldn't defend themselves. To stand in the face of evil and despair without wavering. And when the time came, their swords would strike down any foe that aimed to tarnish that order.

Yet, for the first time… Brian was seeing cracks form within the Empire's foundations. Sadness flickered in his eyes. Times were changing, and there was nothing they could do. His gaze shifted to the inner walls and then back at the commander. With a slight nod, Brian gathered his men and gestured at the nearby soldiers to follow. They needed to fall back to the castle walls, while the Commander sorted out the affairs with the golem. He would lead the soldiers back.

"Then what about the others?" Luka hesitantly asked. "Should they know of this?"

Tucker paused for a moment. He focused on the castle walls as Brian led the retreat, bitterly thinking about the question. There was a time when he didn't understand the importance of maintaining morale, but as memories of his conversation with Carl resurfaced. A doubt emerged.

For a heartbeat, Luka saw the slightest tremble in Tucker's hands. It was the first time he had ever seen his friend filled with conflict, and the sight reminded him of himself. When their friend died.

The words were caught in Tucker's throat.The men who followed him deserved to know. It was their right, and after everything they've been through, it didn't feel right to hide it. Even if it would prevent panic. He steadied himself and slowly inhaled.

"We'll tell them what happened back at the castle. Those who've seen the mana device from afar will already have their questions," Tucker replied.

"But… it'll spread panic. Discord even," Luka pointed out.

"Perhaps, but they deserve to know. They deserve the truth."

"And the golem?" Max questioned.

Tucker slowly exhaled. They couldn't leave the golem intact even if it was the boy's tomb. "Can you render it useless?"

"I can try," Max replied.

Tucker's gaze lingered on the final resting place of the child. This wasn't the type of world he wanted. One where he would have to give the order for his men to desecrate someone's grave. However, there was no other choice. If the Empire salvaged the golem and it emerged on another battlefield, then only more of their comrades would die.

He walked past Max, stopping for a moment before forcing the words out of his mouth. "Do what you must. If you need help, pick those who can keep a secret—at least for now."

Max nodded, gesturing for a handful of his most trusted knights to assist. The Empire's forces were rushing to their location, but they were still far away from their position. The traps they setup beforehand had bought them enough time, and the broken terrain made it all the more difficult for them to give chase.

As the rain fell from the sky, Tucker trailed behind the remaining soldiers to the castle gates. The hissing sound followed him with each step. Smoke curled upward like dying serpents before writhing above the crackling remains of smoldering timber. More and more soldiers entered through the steel gates. Mana shimmered on the surface, traveling through the carved inscriptions. When the final soldier crossed the threshold, the metallic hinges groaned once more, leaving Tucker alone before the closing doors.

He watched as the gates were sealed shut with a heavy heart. It was like a chapter of his life was reaching an end. Where a part of him died beyond the walls. When Brian spoke about losing one's naivety and innocence, he didn't pay it too much thought, but now that he had seen the cruelty of the Empire. The man who once laughed and chased dreams was no longer there.

The events of the war played themselves in fragments. Like a feedback loop that refused to leave him even when he closed his eyes. Each piece cut into him, not just because of what he'd seen but because of what he experienced.

The world wasn't as kind or as fair as he once believed.

Something burned within him as the rain fell. The soft platters echoed in his ears. Not a single tear came from his tired eyes. Only silence remained in the courtyard as the soldiers prepared for their last stand. And in that silence, Tucker knew he would never return to who he had been before.