The path southward was uneven, the terrain marked by the scars of time. Ancient trees stood like sentinels along the roadside, their roots tangled and knotted as though trying to grasp at the earth itself. Birds fluttered nervously from branch to branch, their calls muted, as if they too sensed the coming storm.Rifi walked near the front of the column, his storm-gray eyes scanning the horizon with unrelenting vigilance. Though his body moved with purpose, his thoughts lingered on the stronghold they had left behind. He could still picture Tessa standing tall despite her wounds, supported by the healer, as she delivered her orders to those who remained: hold the compound, retreat if necessary, and await reinforcements. Hers was a heavy burden, yet she bore it without complaint—a quiet reminder to Rifi of the sacrifices war demanded.Kaelin's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "We'll need to move faster if we're to reach the pass before Argos. They're covering more ground than we are."Mira glanced at them both, her tone brisk but steady. "The path we've taken is shorter. If we maintain this pace, we'll reach South Pass before they can. But only just."The confidence in her voice brought a small measure of reassurance. Mira, like the rest of the Aemiliana clan, knew these lands better than any outsider ever could. Her surety about their route eased the tension that gnawed at Rifi's thoughts, though only slightly.Kaelin gave a curt nod, his sharp gaze fixed ahead. "Good. That gives us the chance to fortify our position. We'll make them pay dearly for every inch of ground."The forest thinned as they pressed on, the land opening into rolling hills. The road, worn but passable, curved through the landscape like an old scar. As they crested a ridge, a sight came into view: a small village nestled in the hollow below, its thatched rooftops and winding paths bathed in the golden light of midday. It was the only village in this part of Hepestus's borders near Brimstone Mountain, positioned precariously close to the mountain's dangerous edge.The land surrounding the mountain was barren of significant mana veins, as though the mountain itself had drained the surrounding earth of energy. Brimstone Mountain, however, was a different story—a massive reservoir of untapped mana, too dangerous for any to claim. Tales whispered of beasts so deadly that even yellow-core mages avoided the mountain, their power inconsequential before the ancient predators that called its jagged peaks home. The only safe route was South Pass, a narrow trail carved deep into the mountain's base. Anyone foolish enough to stray from the path often vanished without a trace.Kaelin halted abruptly, his hand raised. The column slowed, a hushed murmur rippling through their ranks as they took in the scene."A village," Kaelin muttered, his tone neutral but laced with concern. "A minor clan, no doubt. They've staked their lives here over a small mana vein. No strategic value to us, but Argos might see it differently." His voice grew grimmer as he turned to one of the centurions. "Take a squad and warn them. Tell them to evacuate south immediately—leave nothing behind."The centurion saluted sharply, selecting five soldiers with a curt gesture before leading them down the slope toward the village.Rifi's gaze followed the squad as they moved with purpose, their figures descending the ridge into the hollow below. The cottages stirred to life as they approached, figures emerging cautiously from doorways and gathering in the open square. Men, women, and children clustered together, their movements hesitant and wary, eyes flicking toward the soldiers with mingled curiosity and dread.Kaelin stood beside Rifi, his arms crossed as he surveyed the scene. "To think war would find its way here," he murmured, almost to himself. "A place like this should've been spared. Remote. Quiet. It should've stayed untouched."Rifi nodded, his jaw tightening as he watched the villagers huddle together. "But it didn't. War doesn't care. Even here, the shadows of armies stretch far enough to cast darkness."Mira, standing a few paces away, kept her eyes on the village below. Her voice was softer, tinged with a sadness that broke through her usual fire. "It's cruel. To tell them to leave the only home they've ever known… to flee east into Hepestus, where they might just die on different soil, far from their home."Kaelin's jaw worked as he considered her words. "It's not fair," he admitted after a moment, his tone flat. "But war doesn't ask what's fair. All we can do is warn them and hope they're lucky enough to stay beyond the clutches of this madness.""Luck," Rifi echoed, bitterness creeping into his voice. "It's all they'll have to count on if Argos comes this way. And if Argos doesn't?""Then maybe they can stay," Kaelin said, though his tone betrayed little optimism. "Maybe this village won't matter enough for anyone to fight over. A small mana vein like theirs... Argos might not even care.""But if they do?" Mira asked, her gray eyes narrowing.Kaelin's gaze didn't waver. "Then they'll have no choice but to leave. Or die."The centurion returned, his squad trailing behind. His expression was grim, though there was a faint glimmer of hope in his eyes. "They've taken our warning seriously," he reported. "But they've decided to stay for now. They'll keep watch and prepare to evacuate if the need arises."Rifi frowned. "Staying's a risk.""It's their choice," Kaelin replied, his voice steady but resigned. "We've done what we can. They've been warned, and they're preparing. That's all we can ask." His gaze swept over the column. "We can't afford to linger. Prepare to move. Our small rest is over."Rifi exhaled slowly, glancing back at the village one last time as the centurion moved to rally the troops. The villagers began to disperse, some retreating to their homes while others lingered near the central square, their unease visible even at a distance."They'll either be lucky," Rifi said quietly, more to himself than anyone else, "or they won't."Kaelin didn't respond. Instead, he stepped forward, his voice cutting through the stillness. "Legionaries, to formation! We march now."The column resumed its march, the village fading into the distance behind them. The land grew steeper, the trail narrowing as it wound between jagged cliffs and dense thickets. Scouts moved ahead and to the flanks, their senses sharp for any sign of the enemy as they neared South Pass. Argos likely still had some ground to cover, but Kaelin's caution wouldn't allow overconfidence. The rhythm of boots against the rocky ground filled the air, broken only by the occasional barked order or the rustle of wind through the trees.Rifi found himself walking alongside Mira. The silence between them was not strained but thoughtful. The sparring match seemed to have shifted something between them—a subtle change in how they measured one another. For all her fire, Mira was focused now, her gaze scanning the path ahead with the sharpness of a seasoned soldier.Rifi frowned, his thoughts lingering on the villagers. He still couldn't understand why they would risk everything for a patch of land with such little value. To him, the answer seemed obvious: flee, survive, live to rebuild. Yet the villagers' decision to remain had confounded him.Mira noticed his expression and broke the silence. "What's troubling you?""I was surprised," Rifi admitted, his voice thoughtful.Mira arched a brow. "Surprised about what?"He hesitated before answering. "That they decided to stay. The villagers, I mean. I expected them to evacuate immediately."Mira's expression hardened, though not in anger. "They're tied to that land. To the mana vein, their homes. For them, leaving isn't just about safety. It's about giving up everything they've ever known."Rifi nodded slowly. "I understand that. But if Argos comes…" He trailed off, unsure how to articulate the unease gnawing at him.She didn't let him finish. "Then they'll face the same cruelty so many others have already faced in this world. But for them, that land, that mana vein—it's their home. The only place they feel they belong. They know the risk, but they choose to hope. I can't say I blame them."He regarded her for a moment, noting the tension in her jaw, the way her fingers flexed and curled as if resisting the urge to draw her weapon. "And what about you? You've chosen to hope too, haven't you?"Mira snorted, a faint, bitter smile tugging at her lips. "Hope? No. I've chosen to fight. There's a difference."Rifi tilted his head. "Is there?"She met his eyes, her gray gaze sharp and unyielding. "Hope is wanting something to happen. Fighting is making sure it does—or stopping it if it's not."Her words settled over him, and for a moment, Rifi said nothing, turning them over in his mind. He couldn't argue with her logic—it was clear, resolute. But where her conviction burned like a steady flame, he felt his own resolve flicker uncertainly, buffeted by doubt."You carry a lot," he said finally, his voice quieter than he intended. "More than most.""So do you," Mira replied without hesitation. Her voice carried no malice, only certainty. "We all do. It's what makes us legionaries."Rifi chuckled faintly, though it lacked humor. "I'm not sure what I am these days. A legionary? A battlemage? A survivor?"Mira's gaze lingered on him, steady and unreadable. "Maybe you're all of those things. Maybe none of them. But you're here, and that's what matters."Her words were blunt, practical, and final. They hung in the air between them, settling over Rifi like a cloak. He didn't reply, instead turning his gaze to the trail ahead as it grew steeper. The column slowed, adjusting to the uneven terrain. Their conversation lapsed into silence, but the weight of it remained. For all their differences, he and Mira shared an unspoken understanding: neither had the luxury of hope, but they would carry on nonetheless.As the ridge leveled out, Kaelin's voice cut through the stillness. "We're nearing the pass! Scouts, report back!"Mira gave Rifi a curt nod before quickening her pace, her figure moving with purpose as she rejoined Arin near the front of the column. Rifi lingered for a moment, his steps slowing as his thoughts churned. For all her sharp edges, Mira was right about one thing—this wasn't about hope. It was about action.The idea gnawed at him, a cold truth he had tried to avoid acknowledging. Since starting the mission with Kaelin and Serra, he had felt his confidence eroding day by day, replaced by the growing weight of doubt. It had taken everything he had to survive against Argos, yet Argos wasn't even his greatest enemy. The Devils loomed far larger, their plans stretching beyond his understanding. And as much as he tried to bury that truth, it clawed its way to the surface now, tearing at his resolve.What chance did he have against beings like that? How could he keep the promise he made to his sister, to his Master Nala? Those promises had felt noble when he'd made them, his heart full of determination. But now, standing on this unforgiving path, they seemed impossibly distant—weights dragging him down when he could least afford it.His mind flickered back to the battle at Aemiliana. The Scarred Battlemage—he had won, hadn't he? But it hadn't felt like victory. Without Kaelin, would he have survived at all? If defeating a single battlemage had taken everything he had, how could he possibly stand against the Devils? The desperation had seeped into him slowly since that day, but here, now, it felt suffocating.Yet Mira's words echoed in his mind, a steady drumbeat cutting through the chaos of his thoughts: hope is wanting something to happen; fighting is making sure it does. She was right. He couldn't afford to be paralyzed by the enormity of the task ahead. He couldn't think about the Devils—not now. Not yet. He had to focus on the fight before him, the one at South Pass.One step at a time.He squared his shoulders, forcing the doubts back into the shadows where they belonged. The path was steep, the cliffs of South Pass looming in the distance like silent sentinels, but he kept his pace steady. It wasn't about conquering everything at once. It was about putting one foot in front of the other, taking the next breath, and fighting the next fight.By the time the column reached South Pass, the sun hung low on the horizon, bathing the rugged landscape in hues of deep gold and crimson. Shadows stretched long and jagged over the rocky terrain, the air growing cooler as the towering cliffs of Brimstone Mountain cast the pass into an early twilight.South Pass was a natural chokepoint, carved by time and elements into a narrow, winding trail no more than a few meters wide. The jagged cliffs on either side rose sharply, towering over fifty meters high, their sheer faces streaked with veins of dark stone. Above, the steep slopes disappeared into misty heights, their treacherous beauty concealing dangers that few dared to name.Kaelin raised his hand, his voice ringing out with sharp authority. "Halt! This is where we make our stand. Spread out and begin fortifying the position."The column stopped immediately, and for a moment, there was silence as everyone surveyed the stark and forbidding landscape. Then the legionaries sprang into action, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the face of clear orders. Shields made of eath mana were stacked, tools brought out, and mages began carving makeshift defenses into the stone. The clink of picks and the crackle of mana-enhanced efforts filled the air, mingling with the faint whistle of wind threading through the cliffs.Kaelin's gaze swept over his soldiers, his expression hard. "Listen carefully. I don't want anyone venturing too far from the pass. The trail may seem open at some points, but these mountains are not safe. The beasts that roam above don't care whether you're a scout or a battlemage—they'll rip through you all the same. The pass is the only safe route. Stay close, stay sharp, and stay alive."His words carried the weight of grim experience, and the soldiers exchanged uneasy glances. Brimstone Mountain's reputation was well-known—a wild, untamed expanse where even the most skilled warriors could vanish without a trace. It wasn't just the Argos forces they had to fear; the mountain itself was a predator.Rifi helped reinforce one of the barricades near the pass's narrowest point, his hands moving with practiced ease even as his mind churned. The events of the day played over in his head—Mira's sharp words, the villagers' fear, and the heavy mantle of responsibility that pressed down on all of them. Around him, other legionaries worked tirelessly, their focus unbroken despite the impending battle. The rough sounds of their labor echoed against the cliffs, creating an eerie rhythm that mingled with the whispering wind.Nearby, Mira and Arin directed the Aemiliana soldiers with quiet efficiency. Mira's sharpness had softened into something more measured, her commands precise and steady as her troops assembled defenses along the narrow trail. Arin, ever the calm presence, moved between groups, lending his strength where it was needed most. Together, they brought a cohesion to the Aemiliana forces that Rifi couldn't help but admire.Kaelin, meanwhile, was a blur of motion. Despite his rank, he worked alongside his soldiers, his fiery mana flaring as he split a boulder blocking part of the path. The stone cracked and tumbled away with a thunderous crash. Kaelin didn't pause, moving on to oversee the carving of small defensive positions into the steep cliffs surrounding the pass. These pockets of space, cut carefully into the rock, allowed legionaries to take higher vantage points from which they could unleash their magic down on advancing enemies.The positions were placed no farther than twenty meters up the sheer walls—any higher risked provoking the mountain's dangerous beasts, a peril none dared invite.As the sun dipped lower, the sky shifted into deep indigos and purples, the fading light casting long shadows over the rocky terrain. Scouts returned to the camp, their faces drawn and grim. Their news sent a ripple of tension through the troops: the Argos forces were close—less than half an hour away.Kaelin wasted no time. He called his centurions to gather near a small fire at the camp's center. The flames flickered and danced, casting shifting shadows over his face, highlighting the hard lines of his jaw and the fierce determination in his eyes."This is where we hold," he said simply, his voice calm but unyielding. "No matter what comes, we do not yield."The words hung in the air, heavy and absolute. The centurions nodded in solemn agreement, their expressions mirroring the gravity of the moment. Hesitation had no place here; the time for doubt had long passed.Rifi nodded as well, his resolve firming. Despite the lingering weight of doubt gnawing at him, he knew there was no room for retreat. South Pass was the line they had to hold. Failure was not an option.As the column settled into final preparations, the temperature dropped sharply, the biting wind snaking through the narrow pass like a ghostly lament. The towering cliffs loomed overhead, silent sentinels to the battle about to unfold. Rifi tightened the straps of his armor, checked his weapons, and adjusted his stance, his gaze locked on the trail ahead. The enemy was near, and soon, there would be nothing but the fight.In the deepening night, South Pass seemed like a world unto itself, suspended in fragile anticipation. The quiet stretched thin, taut with unspoken fears and unyielding resolve. Whatever awaited them beyond the shadows, Rifi knew one thing with certainty: they would meet it head-on.