Alenor arrived at The First Gate in the afternoon with a group of Mercenaries of similar tier. Their goal was to stop the monsters from crossing the bridge/Path that stood above chasm. This place was protected by some old magic which suppressed everything from crossing this bridge by any means other than walking across. Request also mention that nothing could use magic while crossing the bridge or use long range attacks from the other side. Request seemed too easy. They just needed to kill the monsters while they were crossing, Alenor was mage as were most of the others. It was easy money.

After arriving here, they met their client who explained everything. And she left by the time the supposed monster arrived. Only problem they faced was that there were no monsters, instead an organized army marching from the horizon and they controlled those monsters. They were trapped. Not for them, But their client. Seize always used this kind of tactic to fool inexperienced nobles into such a situation. After a long and tiring argument between the leader and others, they decided to fight. And they all climbed on The First Gate. it has not fallen in the last millennia, a miracle forgotten by many. It looked like it was made of Wood, yet it stood too high and unceremoniously old. There was a compound between the first gate and the bridge. If the army gained control of that compound it was over for them. Their leader also contacted The Guild. For reinforcement, but the guild declined.

Their argument was that Only way to get to the Old fort was through the way that the Army occupied. Everyone sent would be slaughtered before even reaching there. They would contact them back when they had assembled a team strong enough to fight an army. The army had an estimated soldier count of ten thousand. It was hopeless from their perspective.

With a tense expression, everyone released their feeble magic to stop the army from rushing through. Alenor with her staff, she just hoped there was a way to save Celine. The monsters charged, howling without any fear. And so the misery began….

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The first one died when a flying beast dove and took him out. He was the leader. Then, the opposing faction began to push back, and they held for one day with only 20 remaining. Alenor was among them, she was a good fighter, but she had used all her life's luck to make it through. It was late at night when the guild contacted them again, and relayed that A Warlord had decided to come to the first gate personally. None of them in their wildest dreams thought they would be saved by someone like that, but then came the second piece of information, they would have to hold out until the first ray of light, that was when she would arrive. And for some reason their stand-in leader asked her to agree. Not that she minded,

"I shall make sure Our client, Celine Levis, survives till the first ray of light."

"And you too." a casual voice asked, Alenor felt subdued for some reason. As if she was being grabbed her neck, " Yes, I too shall survive." she uttered breathlessly. Even talking to a warlord felt like death.

" Then I await our meeting. Do not disappoint me, Alenor."

'How did the Warlord know my name?' But she did not voice out her thoughts. It did not matter. Alenor preferred that big names never knew she existed but maybe hoping to be unknown from a warlord was too much to ask. Then she returned to her post. The warlord wanted to talk to someone of her gender, for whatever reason she concluded that as a reason.

After holding a full day, it may have seemed easy, but reality settled in when one of them uttered in a horrified voice that from last night until noon, there were nine casualties, and from noon until midnight, it was 21. The other side was taking a break, and they would resume their attack on the fort in half an hour, just like the previous night.

If they decide to hide inside the fort, the enemy will break through it in half an hour. Hiding would not provide them enough time to live through it. If they fought, they would die. And there was no guarantee that after making out alive, The warlord would not just kill them.

For Alenor, It was not even a choice. Unlike every other client, this client was lovely and did not treat them like criminals. Putting her in danger just to increase their chance of survival by a few percent did not sit well with them, at least most of them.

So they fought with renewed vigor, this time there was hope.The vigor did not last long. In the first 15 minutes, first person fell. A young man, a mage, only hopes for his blind sister. Alenor wished she could be in his place. She saw the caster, but before she could even say anything, a dark glow plunged into his neck, and he fell lifelessly. Everyone's eyes widened, and they all ducked behind the parapet wall.

Alenor looked at them, and they were not ready for this situation. Injured, hungry, and backed against the wall, neither was she. However, their sudo leader did not seem to waver. If not for him, they would have died last night after their true leader fell. His plans, natural defense of this place, and advantage of the fort kept them alive.

"Everyone, sitting duck will not do. They will swarm the fort in no time. We have to fight them and hold on till sunrise."

The leader said his name was Gweyne, the oldest among them and only Tier I. She agreed with him but did not voice her opinion—

"YOU THINK WE DON'T UNDERSTAND YOUR RUSE. YOU'RE GONNA USE US AS SHIELD TO SURVIVE AND GAIN FAVOR FROM THAT WHORE AND WE WILL BE EATEN BY MONS————"

Shouted one with injuries on hand. She knew he did not have a pleasant past. He was borderline going into 'RAGE'. Now was not the time for this shouting, which would only get them killed or worse if captured alive. One of the female mercenaries betrayed them and tried to join other side, only to be raped by the soldiers and then given to monsters. Just from her cries they understood that monsters did not eat her right away. Bile rose up her throat just thinking about it. No one even thought of betrayal.

Gwynne trundled toward him and landed a heavy punch in the face. His nose turned purple. Blood flowed down his face.

"We don't have time to talk. If you don't like what I say, jump down. Either we fight, or I kill you all myself."

He spoke in an even voice. There was no rush, like this situation did not concern him. And he knew how to resolve this situation swiftly. Their now dead leader just tried to appease everyone.

"If only one of us makes it out alive, I have succeeded. Against these odds, even Almir would have lost his nerve, but I have lasted, and I will make sure at least one of you lives to tell the tale of this Gweyne, bastard of Dvyenor. How he held his own against an army of monsters and mages with just 48 unskilled mercenaries"

She understood him. He no longer appeared as strong and unwavering as he had a few minutes ago. He had accepted death, yet he had a lust for fame and acceptance from his house which did not care about him. Bastards were never cared for. They were by-products of a lord and his sins. Ignored by all, thrown out of the dome when twelve, learn to fend for themselves. His hatred for his brother drives him, and he runs toward his death. She wondered if he would achieve his desire, and if he did, who would walk out alive? Not her, that's for sure. Maybe he will survive. Psychopaths driven by desire were arguably more tenacious than someone like her, devoid of anything.

"Now, get up and live this moment to its fullest. This may very well be our last,"

He stood up, charged his sword, and swung, releasing an arc of projectiles toward the enemies attempting to breach the centuries-old wooden gate. Even after all these deaths, today it will fall. It's just a matter of time. The projectile killed a few dozen monsters—a drop in the ocean. In an instant, killed monsters mushed into the stone pavement, and newer ones took their place. Alenor would also live out her remaining time killing these monsters. She would have preferred a little less painful way but at least it would be swift.

In the next hour, they were down to 9, and the broken-nosed one's face rolled toward Alenor. She didn't panic; she'd seen far too many people leave at this point to be shaken, but it was clear he wasn't the one to live through. Somehow, she believed Gwyene would live through this, even though the odds seemed impossible. Maybe the leader had some secret card to make it through. He was the only one thinking beyond just living, even in this situation. Everyone else was just trying not to die and failing miserably.

Gwyene looked at their faces. and eventually met her eyes.

"What's your name"

"Alenor. Alenor, T2 mercenary"

After a few moments of deep thought, he rummaged through his coat and pulled out a locket with a diamond-shaped Red Cryl in the center. Red ones were supposed to hold 'Arcane of Sanctuary.' if she recalls correctly. She hadn't seen anyone in possession of something this valuable outside of noble houses.

"Do you know what this is?"

She nodded. They were already on their last leg. What damage will this knowledge truly do? He looked shocked. He most certainly was not expecting that. Others were too ragged to care, it seemed. She did not say more and waited for him to continue.

"Looks like I made the right call."

His shoulder sagged. Took a deep breath and poured the last of his water. threw his waterskin into the mob. It exploded. She raised her eyebrow. How did he do that?

"Listen, I want you to take this and go back inside the fort and cast this spell.."

"This is…?"

"It's called Ichor's sanctuary. After casting, it cannot be broken for three hours . you need to cast it on Celine's chamber. Then even if we die, she would be unharmed till Warlord arrives"

" why don't you do it?" she wondered. And she knew if he left for a minute, it would be over. Everyone was short winded.

" we don't have time for argument, just go "

"I'm out of mana; ask someone else."

Gweyne raised his broken arm, unarmored, clobbered it on the side. His face twisted in agony. He again looked down on his arm, now purple and dangling.

"This one is different. To cast you need A drop of high blood and an entreaty 'ut'thiyati'"

High blood, blood containing Mana . A fancy of saying blood of a Mage.

"Why me?"

He looked around. Of the nine, three were passed out, and remaining four were spellcasting their last spell. After that, they would be out of commission. She was the only one remaining