Frozen Flame of Dawn - Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Chapter 25: Sanctuary’s First Step_2

Following her gaze, Amir’s stomach knotted as he noticed a huddled group of children. They were all huddled together, with some quietly crying and others just staring into the distance with hollow eyes. The eldest of them was no older than fifteen, and their young faces were marked with loss and sorrow. Some of the younger ones clutched one another with their small shoulders shaking.

Amir’s voice cracked as he spoke. “Their parents… they were killed in the attack. Most of them don’t have any relatives left in the village. They’re… orphans now.” His gaze dropped to the ground, his guilt visible in the lines of his face. “We’ll try to look after them all of us in the village but….”

Amir hesitated and with his voice faltering, he tried to sound sure of himself but the truth was too much for him to ignore. In the village, everyone had lost something important: spouses, brothers, or jobs. He knew that taking care of so many lost kids would put a strain on their already limited funds.

Amira studied his face, her sharp eyes catching the hesitation in his tone and she gave a small nod by understanding his unspoken concerns. “Amir, if these children have no family here with no one to stay then if you and others agree then I would like to take them into my care.”

And before Amir who was confused can ask, Lila stepped forward with her troubled expression and caution in her voice. “Forgive me for asking, but why take on such a responsibility?”

“These children aren’t yours, so why do you want to help them?” she pressed with her tone edged in suspicion, as if wary of some hidden motive behind her offer.

Amira gave a soft smile and shook her head. “Lila, I fully understand your worry. It’s not about getting something. A lot of us in the Unit were orphans. We know what it’s like to lose everything and no one to help you so if we can provide a safe environment for these children to grow and learn how to protect themselves, that will be enough.”

Lila’s suspicion softened and replaced by gratitude and a hint of embarrassment. “Then thank you truly as it means more than words can say.”

“Once we find a safe place, we’ll make sure they’re taken care of—” Amira looked back at the group of children with determination as she said.

“If they choose to stay, we’ll train and care for them until they’re ready to be independent, but if better opportunities arise, we’ll make sure they have the freedom to choose,” she said after a moment.

“You have our trust, Captain.” Amir nodded with his throat tightening with emotion.

As the two walked away, Sophie who had been standing there all along raised an eyebrow, watching them leave. Then she turned to Amira, crossing her arms across her chest, raising her eyebrows at her .”Alright, boss, what’s the story here? You’re not usually the type to take in strays—what’s the plan with these kids?”

Amira smirked, looking over to Sophie. “You always cut to the chase, don’t you? Fine. Here’s the thing. The world isn’t as it once was, Sophie. Governments, rulers—they won’t hold the same power anymore. New powers will rise, and we’ll need people we can trust by our side.”

Sophie leaned her head to the side, still looking unconvinced. “So you’re saying you’re going to turn these kids into soldiers?”

Amira shrugged. “Not exactly.Some of them might have potential, like we did when we were teenagers. Think about it—when we joined the Phoenix Unit, we were just kids too. But with training, discipline, and a purpose, we found a way to survive and thrive. These kids deserve the same chance. The little ones? They just need a safe place to grow up. It’s not much of a burden to feed a few extra mouths.”

Sophie’s lips twitched into a reluctant smile. “You make it sound so noble. But I get it. You’re not just doing this out of the goodness of your heart. You see the bigger picture.”

Amira gave her a pointed look. “Exactly. They’re like us, Sophie. They’ve been through hell, and they’ll need a guiding hand to get through what’s coming. The least we can do is give them that chance.”

Sophie sighed, throwing up her hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll make the arrangements. But don’t come crying to me when one of them starts calling you Mom.”

Amira chuckled, shaking her head. “If that happens, I’ll deal with it. For now, let’s focus on getting everyone through the next couple of days.”

As Sophie walked off to handle the logistics, Amira returned to her spot by the icy wall, sitting cross-legged and closing her eyes. The cool evening breeze carried the faint sounds of villagers talking and children laughing—a brief moment of peace in a world turned upside down.

“We’ll make it through this, one step at a time,” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the wind.

Soon her thoughts wandered to the conversation she had with Aiden’s future self. She recalled his determined words as if they were spoken yesterday: “When the time comes on the 3rd day after the surge, I’ll prioritize the people over saying inside central province and doing nothing.”

She smiled faintly, though a shadow of worry crept into her expression. She knew Aiden was heading towards Vandrim with his team, securing civilian safety outside central Province as the Federation’s bureaucracy refused to provide help.

In just a few days, if her timing was correct, he’d reach the edge of the Icelorn Basin. That would bring him dangerously close to the military forces pursuing him—forces that had labeled him a traitor for putting lives over blind obedience.

Amira’s jaw tightened. “They’ll come for him. But by then, I’ll be ready,” she told herself in a whisper.

It was clear what she was going to do: she had to secure the military compound in the Icelorn Basin before Aiden’s arrival. If she could help Aiden to fend of military forces pursuing him while saving his team members life.

Maybe then she could convince him to trust her, perhaps they could work together to rescue Alex and help them recover their memories and she also knew Aiden’s trust would be crucial for the steps ahead.

Then cold surface between her hands kept her steady reminded her that she still have time. After taking a big breath and letting it out gradually, she resumed her meditation.

Meanwhile, in the Capital City

Among the quite streets of the city, a group of armed people moved steadily through the fancy hallways of the Rienfeld Building.

At the center of the group was Sam, his sharp eyes scanning every corner. They had encountered resistance multiple times as they navigated the building, but his team handled the obstructions with efficiency. Those who dared to interfere were swiftly and silently subdued.

“Stay sharp,” Sam murmured to his team as they approached the grand double doors leading to Cain Rienfeld’s office. A final guard attempted to block their path, but with a simple nod from Sam, one of his men efficiently dealt with the guard while Sam pushed the doors open without hesitation, stepping into the Cain’s office.

Cain lounged in his leather chair, feet propped on his desk as soft classical music played in the background. At the sound of the intrusion, his eyes snapped open, and he yelled, “Who the hell dares to enter my office uninvited? Guards!”

Sam took another step forward, not bothered by the man’s threats. Cain’s shouting grew louder when no guards appeared. “Do you know who I am?” he spat, his arrogance palpable.

Sam’s lips curled into a faint sneer. “Oh, I know exactly who you are. That’s why I’m here.”

Cain scoffed, leaning forward with mock bravado. “Do you have any idea what kind of power you’re messing with? You won’t get away with—”

Sam’s patience snapped. Without another word, he delivered a sharp slap across Cain’s face, silencing him mid-rant. The force of the blow sent Cain stumbling back, knocking over a lamp as he hit the edge of his desk.

“What the—! You can’t do this!” Cain growled, but his words were cut short as Sam roughly twisted his arms behind his back and cuffed him.

“You’re under arrest for authorizing the illegal killings of Federation soldiers and assigning private mission to special force unit without authorization,” Sam stated coldly, pushing Cain forward.

Cain’s expression shifted from shock to fury. “You have no idea what you’re doing! I’m untouchable, you hear me? Untouchable! My family will ruin you!”

Sam leaned in close, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “You might want to save your breath for your defense. If you survive long enough to give one.”

He shoved Cain forward, dragging him out of the office. The sight of their him being marched out in cuffs sent ripples through the staff, who exchanged shocked whispers but dared not interfere.

And soon news of Cain’s arrest spread like wildfire through the capital’s elite circles. Whispers of scandal and impending chaos buzzed in fancy dining halls and shadowy backrooms alike. The Rienfeld family’s influence loomed large, and many wondered what retaliation might follow.

Meanwhile, at the Federation Council building, preparations for the critical meeting were underway. Members of the council donned their formal attire, their faces grim as this meeting would shape the Federation’s future and determine how they would address the chaos engulfing the all provinces.