Page 97 of Alien Warlord's Fury

"You did it," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You brought them home."

The unexpected welcome left me speechless. Over Mirelle's shoulder, I saw other council members approaching—including Varek, whose perpetual scowl had softened into something almost approving. He met my gaze and offered a curt nod of acknowledgment.

Mirelle released me and turned to the rescued children, kneeling to greet them with gentle words. Other Nyxari and humans surged forward, some offering food and water, others helping the most exhausted of our group.

"The council authorized a full mission after you left," Mirelle explained, rising to her feet again. "When we couldn't find you, we feared the worst. Ravik and Zara were sent to locate you—butit seems you completed the mission before reinforcements could arrive."

"Hammond is dead," I said, the words still strange on my tongue. "The Nexus is stabilizing."

Varek approached, his gaze moving between Nirako and me with shrewd assessment. "The corrupted energy signatures we detected have ceased. Your work?"

I nodded, unsure how to explain what had happened at the Nexus core.

"She redirected the energy Hammond had corrupted," Nirako said, his voice carrying the quiet authority that seemed so natural to him. "The children are free of his influence, and the Nexus is healing."

Varek's eyes narrowed slightly. "And your markings? They appear... different."

I glanced down at my arms, where silver lines traced intricate patterns across my skin. They no longer flared erratically with my emotions, instead maintaining a steady, soft glow. The pain that had accompanied them since Hammond's experiments was gone.

"I understand them now," I said simply. "They're stable."

A young Nyxari girl approached, her golden lifelines forming delicate patterns across her face. She stared at my silver markings with undisguised fascination.

"They're like the ancient patterns," she said, pointing to my arm. "The ones in the temple drawings."

Her mother started to pull her away, but I knelt to the child's level. "What patterns?"

"The Nexus Guardians," she said, as if it should be obvious. "From before the Great Division."

Her mother looked embarrassed. "Just old stories," she explained. "Legends of those who could speak directly to the planet's energy."

I felt Nirako's interest sharpen through our bond. The girl reached out hesitantly toward my arm.

"May I?"

I nodded, extending my arm. Her small finger traced one of the silver lines, and my marking responded faintly at her touch. She giggled.

"It knows you," she said with childlike certainty.

"Enough, Kiri," her mother said gently. "They need rest."

As they moved away, I rose to my feet, catching the expressions of those around us. Where once I'd seen fear and suspicion when they looked at my markings, now I saw something different—wonder, respect, even hope.

"You should both eat and rest," Mirelle said, gesturing toward the central gathering area. "The council will want a full report, but it can wait until morning."

As we moved through the settlement, people nodded or smiled in greeting. Some reached out to touch my arm or shoulder in passing—gestures of gratitude or acknowledgment I wasn't accustomed to receiving.

"They see you differently now," Nirako observed quietly.

"They see the markings differently," I corrected.

"No." He shook his head. "They see what you did with them. What you chose to do."

I considered his words as we reached the communal eating area. Bowls of hot stew and bread were pressed into our hands, and we found a quiet corner to sit. The rescued children were already being tended to by healers, surrounded by community members eager to make them comfortable.

"I didn't do it for recognition," I said, watching the children. One of them caught my eye and smiled shyly.

"I know." Nirako's voice held a warmth that flowed through our bond. "That's why it matters."

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