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As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the heat became unbearable. Sweat trickled down Damien's forehead, but he hardly noticed. His focus remained unwavering, though he could see his men starting to grow weary. After hours of trekking under the blazing sun, he finally signaled for a break. They settled on a slope that offered a bit of shade and respite from the heat.

The men dropped their packs and began pulling out their rations—dried meats, nuts, and canteens of water. Damien sat apart from them, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, though his mind was elsewhere. His thoughts drifted back to Stephanie, the look on her face when he left, her whispered plea for him to stay, and the quiet strength she always seemed to exude even in moments of fear. Then, his thoughts shifted to Kayla, his daughter—the one he had only just met and was desperate to save.

His men, sitting in a loose circle nearby, chatted quietly amongst themselves. He could hear snippets of their conversation—old war s