The cold night air was thick with tension as Ashvath stared down at the trembling soldier before him. The flickering torchlight cast deep shadows across the young man's pale face, etched with fear and regret.
"Tell me everything," Ashvath said quietly, his voice steady but heavy with disappointment.
The soldier swallowed hard, voice barely a whisper. "They threatened my family... said if I didn't help, they'd—" His words broke off into a choked sob.
Sita stepped forward, eyes softening as she knelt beside him. "You're trapped between fear and loyalty. But betrayal... it costs lives."
Ashvath's jaw clenched. "There's always a choice. You chose wrong."
---
The Weight of Mercy
The camp was eerily silent the next morning. Ashvath sat alone by the river, the soldier's confession replaying in his mind.
Sita joined him, sitting quietly. "What will you do?"
Ashvath looked up, eyes heavy. "Punish him... or find a way to turn him."
Sita nodded thoughtfully. "Mercy can be a weapon as sharp as any blade."
---
A Dangerous Gamble
That evening, Ashvath called the soldier to him. "You'll help us root out the traitors. But one false move, and you'll pay with your life."
The soldier nodded, relief and fear mingling in his eyes. "I won't fail you."
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Unseen Enemies
As the soldier revealed hidden plots and secret meetings, Ashvath and Sita realized the enemy's reach was deeper than they feared.
Whispers of conspiracy tangled through the camp like poisonous vines—friends turned foes, secrets exchanged in the dark.
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End of Chapter 25