The memories of old were back—again, again, again—relentless and raw, each a flash of red, a terrible reminder of the past. Rifi lay immobilized in his dream, the steady drip of blood falling onto him from his sister above. Her lifeless eyes stared unseeing, each drop of blood magnified in slow, painful detail. He tried to shout, but no sound came. It was endless.Rifi jolted awake, drenched in sweat, a strained, muffled scream clawing its way from his throat. As he blinked into the dim light, he forced himself to focus, letting his breathing slow. Just a nightmare.Instinct took over as he pushed mana through his veins, sending a pulse outward to scan his surroundings. The act, however, sent a dull ache rippling through his depleted core. As the haze faded, he took in the surroundings—a large tent filled with beds, all occupied, some with unconscious legionaries, others with patients restless in sleep. An infirmary. He exhaled, letting his mana settle. The room was safe, and the pain from his core was nothing compared to the throbbing agony that filled every muscle and limb, a brutal reminder of his overuse of lightning mana. His injuries from the last battle felt like distant bruises by comparison.His torso was wrapped tightly in bandages, covering burns and cuts from his fight with the spellbounds and the scarred battlemage. He let himself settle, taking in his surroundings, when the entrance to the tent parted.An older woman, dressed in the medical robes of the Aemiliana Clan, stepped inside. She moved with calm, assured authority, her hands warm as she placed them on his chest, sending a soothing wave of healing mana into him. The warmth loosened the tension in his muscles, easing his breath."Don't worry," she said softly, offering a faint smile. "You're safe. Aemiliana has you now, and your injuries are healing well. The worst is behind you. In a few days, you'll be back to your usual self." She fixed him with a stern but kind look. "But do me a favor, would you? Refrain from using your mana like that. Everyone here is injured, and the last thing I need is any startled patients reopening wounds."Rifi managed a small, apologetic smile, though his voice was weak. "Reflex. I... wasn't sure where I was." His brow furrowed as he recalled the battle. "Do you know what happened? I was with a friend—Kaelin. Is he all right?"The healer's face softened, and she nodded. "Your friend is fine. He was here most of yesterday, keeping an eye on you. He'll likely stop by again this morning."Rifi let himself sink back, comforted by her words as she adjusted the pillow behind him. "Rest a little longer," she advised, smoothing a hand over his forehead. "In the morning, you'll have all the answers you need."Grateful for her kindness, he closed his eyes again, the lingering hum of her healing mana pulling him back into sleep.-When he next opened his eyes, the sun was high, casting a soft glow through the tent's fabric. As his vision adjusted, he saw Kaelin's familiar grin hovering above him. Serra stood beside him, relief shining in her eyes."Well, well," Kaelin quipped, folding his arms with a smirk. "Look who finally decided to wake up. Our very own sleeping beauty."Rifi huffed, rolling his eyes as best as he could with the effort it took to even shift his gaze. Serra joined in, chuckling, "Glad to see you're back with us, Rifi. Though, with the way you two are acting, I almost feel like a third wheel.""Hey, don't look at me," Kaelin shot back, feigning innocence. "You grow close after fighting side-by-side through a few battles. And while you were off gallivanting, we've had no shortage of trouble."Rifi rubbed his temple, still shaking off the fog of sleep. "Right… well, someone care to tell me how long I was out?"Kaelin's face softened a little, and he folded his arms. "A day and a half. Serra got here about an hour ago and thought she'd join me in watching the grand reawakening."Serra nodded, her expression turning serious. "After relaying our intel to the City Lord, more information started coming in about the western border. I hurried back as soon as I could."Rifi sat up slightly, the urgency returning. "And the battle?" His voice was thick with worry. "What happened?"Kaelin's expression shifted, and he pressed a hand to Rifi's shoulder. "Easy there, big boss. We'll explain it all, but you're in no shape to rush anything. If you're feeling steady, let's head to the main hall. Commander Edran and some others are waiting. They'll fill in the details."As they walked through the clan grounds, Rifi's gaze swept over the remains of the battlefield. Buildings near the wall bore the scars of intense magic; some were reduced to splinters, others scorched and pocked with craters from spells. He felt his heart sink at the sight, realizing the clan hadn't managed to avoid the brunt of the battle's wrath."Commander Elias…" he began, the question hanging heavily in the air.Kaelin's face fell, and he looked away for a moment before answering. "I didn't know you two spoke." His voice softened. "He didn't make it. Elias died protecting his people. His sacrifice saved many, but the clan paid a heavy price. Over half of their high-ranked legionaries are gone, and many lower ranks, too." He sighed, his gaze distant. "Aemiliana's finest, gone in one day."Rifi was silent, absorbing the loss. His interaction with Elias had been brief, but the man's quiet strength and resolve had left an impression. The familiar weight of loss settled over him—a cruel reminder of how unforgiving this world could be.They entered the main hall—a modest but sturdy building, its walls bearing marks from years of resilience and service. Inside, Commander Edran and a few legionaries waited, gathered around a large table. One man, visibly injured and pale, stood out—a spellbound like Edran.Edran's eyes lit up with a brief smile. "Rifi, good to see you up and moving. Welcome." He gestured to the injured man. "You hadn't met before, but this is Tenex, one of our spellbounds. He took heavy injuries as you know, but he is finnaly recovered enough to be able to join us."Tenex inclined his head, his face etched with lines of pain and determination. His gaze was unwavering, a reminder of the scars they all bore.After quick introductions, Rifi's attention turned back to Edran, who began recounting the events with a solemn tone."The situation has escalated," Edran began, his voice steady but grim. "Aemiliana paid a high price. Elias and many others sacrificed themselves to protect the clan and hold the line. They took down two of the enemy spellbounds, but it cost them dearly." He met Rifi's eyes. "After you and Kaelin killed the scarred battlemage, the enemy retreated."Tenex chimed in, his voice rough but steady. "Our reinforcements intercepted them. They were too depleted to put up much of a fight. Two more spellbounds were killed, along with most of the mercenaries. Only one spellbound and around fifty mages managed to escape."Edran's jaw clenched as he continued. "Our scouts pursued them to the border, but they had to halt when they saw what awaited beyond." His eyes darkened. "The Argos forces—over ten thousand strong, camped just beyond our borders. They're preparing for an all-out assault."Rifi exchanged a look with Kaelin and Serra, a chill settling over him. This was no longer a skirmish; it was the beginning of something far larger."So they achieved what they wanted with these raids?" Rifi asked, his voice laced with frustration. "It was all a setup for a full-scale invasion?"Tenex nodded, his brow furrowed. "Seems that way. But you and Kaelin's efforts to protect Aemiliana's mana vein must have thwarted part of their plan. It would've been much worse if they'd succeeded there."Kaelin interjected, his face serious. "They're playing a long game, and we're only just beginning to understand it. Their attacks were targeted, and they have managed to mobilize in secret, faster than we could have anticipated."Edran continued, "With no immediate threat behind our lines, the people and smaller clans have been evacuated toward the city. The western encampment is nearly empty now, and the last civilians will be out by nightfall."Rifi took a deep breath, a small sense of relief flickering amid the tension. But another thought gnawed at him. "That... thing the scarred battlemage swallowed. Do we know what it was?"Edran's gaze hardened. "Not yet. Whatever it was, it amplified his power beyond anything we'd seen. If Argos has more of these devices, it could change the balance of power in their favor."Tenex added cautiously, "I have a theory. It may be a form of weaponized mana, perhaps derived from the veins they drained. It's only a theory, but if they're finding ways to convert mana into pure instant combat power... it's a danger we need to be prepared for."Edran nodded, his gaze steeling with determination. "Right now, our priority is to fortify our defenses and brace for what's coming. We've secured our lands for now, but we can't afford any more needless losses." His voice softened, the weight of recent sacrifices evident. "We've all paid too much already."He turned to Serra. "With the information Serra's provided us, we have a good sense of when our reinforcements will arrive. By tomorrow nightfall, we'll have the first wave—two full legions. More will follow as soon as they can be mobilized."Kaelin's face brightened with a flicker of hope. "That's something. But what about the three major clans?"Edran nodded thoughtfully. "We haven't received word yet, but I'm confident they'll rally to our aid. An invasion of this scale puts their own existence at risk, too. We may not have everyone's loyalty, but we have a shared enemy.""Two legions, and if the big clans join us?" Rifi murmured, as if testing the weight of the idea. "Maybe we can hold, after all.""With that support," Edran added, his voice resolute, "we'll do more than just hold. We'll show them what it means to defend these lands."As they continued discussing the defensive lines, fallback plans, and supply routes, the mood in the room shifted from sorrow to resolve. By the end, each of them felt a renewed sense of purpose, determined to protect what they could against the oncoming storm.As Rifi left the hall, flanked by Kaelin and Serra, he felt the weight of the task before them pressing down. They had fought their first battle, but the true war was just beginning. And this time, they would be ready.