"So they finally arrive…"

Out in the distance, Fay spotted groups of people in orderly lines, soldiers.

By now, he had the refugees enter, at least those Mirage deemed safe.

Anyone she marked as a spy was left outside to sleep in the hot sun.

Their army would pick them up soon enough, so Fay did not bother with them.

What troubled him more was how to feed his people with all the fighting that was about to begin.

He had prepared as best he could: dried meat to last a few days, fresh meat from a recent kill, and ice magic from certain creatures to keep it preserved for a longer period.

For now, that was all they had.

Fay's focus shifted to the wave of humans advancing, each group following a different path, each carrying a different flag, each belonging to a different race.

He could not understand how they had all managed to arrive together, as though the entire march had been carefully planned.

Beside him on the wall, Mirage gave a slow yawn, as though none of it was worth being concerned about.

Fay almost felt at ease just watching her, but when his gaze turned to his teacher and Nahrin, leader of the Ravari, the unease returned.

Both wore anxious expressions, a silent sign that this was far greater than Mirage cared to admit.

"Well… it will be a hard fight, Fay. This is more than just the king returning with backup. This is the king you spared, returning with allies or worse, with those who covet your dragon. You should stay safe until we can drive back a good portion of them."

His teacher, Elaruîn, spoke quietly at his side.

He had already set plans in motion for the coming fight, though everything now depended on how the hums chose to begin.

Would they settle into a long siege meant to starve the city, or would they strike quickly in hopes of seizing Mirage?

Fay looked outward, studying the four banners rising above the approaching army.

He recognized only one: a black flag with a golden crown set above crossed spears.

That crest had hung around the capital before he and Mirage claimed it.

It had to be the mark of the old king he had driven out.

"The next," Elaruîn said, pointing to a deep blue banner where a pale sun rose over silver waves, "belongs to Solmere City. Those waves represent the waters that feed their fields. They supply grain and crops that every kingdom here buys. Their presence means they intend to tighten trade and starve us if battle does not."

His hand moved again, this time pointing toward the blood-red cloth marked by a black hawk tearing free from broken chains. A frown darkened his teacher's features.

"That is the Veylor Dominion. Raiders at heart, they are very reckless and have a hunger for plunder. They care little for alliances and even less for honor. If they are here, it is for spoils rather than loyalty… but that also means we might work with them, if we can find a way to convince them somehow."

Elaruin's gaze shifted to the final banner, a green flag bearing a white oak with silver roots.

"The last one is Calvesset, the highland kingdom. They were mercenaries long before they ever called themselves a nation, and though they have forged a crown, they have never shed that nature. They rarely leave their mountains, so they must have been bought off to march here. That, at least, works in our favor, since they have never fought well alongside others."

Fay tried to memorize each banner, fixing their colors and symbols in his mind, until Mirage gave a soft huff.

"Let's see which one makes the first move. I wonder how long it has been since humans last saw a real dragon. So far, I don't see any creatures worth being wary of… this makes things boring."

She yawned, spread her wings, and without another word flew off toward the palace.

Elaruîn broke the silence that followed. "Well… I think we should have someone keep watch. Since we three are the leaders of our respective races, it falls to us to divide the city's defenses. I will have my Mistwalkers rotate between the left and right wings of the wall. Nahrin, have the Ravari cover the opposite side from me. Make sure they rely on scent as well as sight. We know some creatures can disguise their forms. Fay, your soldiers will hold the front gate. Rotate them every few hours to keep them sharp."

Fay gave a firm nod. He already had three men in mind to begin the first watch.

With the orders set, they each returned to their own duties. Elaruîn busied himself with the Mistwalkers, Nahrin oversaw more tents rising for the Ravari, and Fay returned to his people, the weight of the banners and all they represented still lingering at the edge of his thoughts.

Fay, however, remained at the wall, watching as the armies spread out across the fields.

He studied the way they unpacked their supplies and set to work raising quick camps, each group falling into its own rhythm, which impressed Fay.

Some used their monsters to make enough tents for their soldiers, while others simply had the soldiers do the hard work.

As the others left to tend to their duties, two figures came to stand beside him. It was Horin and Selûne.

Horin folded her hands as she watched the countless hums moving like ants across the recovering fields that had only just begun to show greenery.

"If they only knew how long it took to grow that… how much effort we spent gathering aether stones to strengthen the world tree. Now they're cutting down seedlings we planted just weeks ago. I hope they're prepared for a real fight, because they will pay for ruining my work."

Selûne leaned against the fortress walls, her gaze sharp as she peered farther than either Fay or Horin could.

She did not like what she saw.

"This is anything but a show. Their camps stretch all the way to the horizon…" Selûne tilted her head, eyes narrowing at the nearest fires. "But their food seems no better than ours, old bread and preserved meat. If that's all they have, then we aren't far behind in strength."

Horin gave her a sidelong glance. "I'll trust your eyes. Hopefully, they run out of supplies faster, though. I wouldn't mind hunting another trucktail before this is over."

Fay stayed quiet, eyes fixed on the fields below. "I'm glad at least the two of you are here. Together we'll find more ways to defeat them… or at the very least, force them to flee. I am sure of it."

It was then that Horin spoke again, her tone filled with sudden excitement. Her sharp gaze softened slightly as she leaned back from the wall.

"Today is also the day my father finally tries to reclaim his creature. I heard you gave him a great deal of aether crystals. So, how about we take a break from watching soldiers line up and see what he is up to?"

Fay and Selûne nodded in agreement. They called Maria, who was lazing nearby, and Fay made sure to bring Joan along so the whole team could stay together.

They soon arrived where the Ravari were stationed within the walls and made their way toward Horin's dwelling. A large tent stood there, the ritual tent Fay remembered well, the same one where he had once received his magical stone piercings.

"Let me check in with my father first," Horin said before slipping inside.

Fay and the others waited outside until she returned, a spark of excitement in her eyes.

"We are in luck. The process is starting. Just please, keep quiet. My father is meditating, and if things go well… we will witness the moment he summons."

The group stepped carefully into the tent meant for rituals and sat down in a quiet circle, their eyes fixed on Nahrin.

He was deep in meditation beside a pile of ruby-like fire crystals, each one glowing more brightly than the last as if feeding off him.

The air inside was heavy with the scent of incense and burned herbs, the smoke curling in lazy trails toward the roof of the tent. Beside Nahrin knelt Mama Kueha, the elder who had always cared for Mira. Her hands moved slowly over the lines of ash drawn on the ground, steadying the ritual as she whispered prayers under her breath while three other elders stood around chanting.

At the center sat Nahrin, Horin's father, his body perfectly still except for the slow rise and fall of his chest.

Before him rested a shallow stone basin filled with fragments of glowing aether crystals, their light pulsing in rhythm with his breath.

The markings etched across his arms and chest glowed faintly, reacting to the flow of energy he was guiding inward.

Suddenly, the red crystals began to fracture, one by one, dissolving into fine dust that drifted upward like fireflies before sinking into the runes. The entire tent seemed to be under the effect of a gentle but strange tornado that ruffled them for a few seconds before things went still.

Everyone felt it, a shiver that ran along Fay's skin as the aether began to surge in tides, causing the marks on the ground to pulse red.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.