The group rode in tense silence, the air heavy with the weight of their mission. Minutes passed before Calvin finally raised a hand, signaling the group to halt. In the distance, the castle came into view—small but imposing, its dark stone walls partially concealed by thick mist.
Calvin's sharp eyes scanned the structure before turning to Garven. "Garven, can you use your raven? I need to know how many are out there."
Garven nodded without hesitation. "On it." He brought two fingers to his lips and whistled. Moments later, a black raven descended from the sky, landing lightly on his outstretched arm. He murmured a few words to the bird before it took off, disappearing into the fog.
While they waited, Loris rode up beside Calvin. "What's the plan?" he asked, his voice low but steady.
Calvin didn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed on the distant castle. "Until we know their numbers and positions, we wait. I need a clear picture before we act. No point running in blind."
Loris nodded, his expression grim. "Fair enough. But we'd better move quickly. The longer we wait, the more time they have to prepare for us."
Calvin turned in his saddle, looking back at the group. His eyes locked on Kieran. "Kieran, come closer. I need you by my side."
Kuroi's brow furrowed in confusion, but he didn't argue. With a gentle nudge to his horse, he moved up beside Calvin. "What's this about?"
Calvin glanced at him, his tone calm but firm. "You're sharp, Kieran. I'll need your instincts when we move in."
Kieran nodded slowly, though his confusion lingered. "Understood."
Seraphina's voice cut through the moment. "What about me, Calvin?" she asked, riding a little closer.
Calvin turned to her, his expression softening slightly. "You stay where you are. When the time comes, use your magic to aid everyone."
Seraphina hesitated, a faint frown crossing her face. "Oh," she said simply, her usual confidence faltering for just a moment.
Calvin gave her a small nod. "Your abilities are vital, Seraphina. Don't underestimate your role in this."
She straightened in her saddle, her pride restored. "I won't."
The group fell silent again as they awaited Garven's report, the tension thick as the mist around them.
Garven rode back to the group, his raven circling overhead before settling on his shoulder. He nudged his horse closer to Calvin, his face set with quiet resolve. "Calvin," he said, his voice breaking the tense silence.
Calvin turned to him, his sharp gaze steady. "Did you figure out how many are out there?"
Garven nodded, his expression grim. "Yes. There are around 500 men guarding the castle."
Calvin's eyes narrowed slightly. "No demons? No corrupt mages?"
Garven shook his head. "None that I could see. It seems to be just men."
Calvin looked down at the map in front of him, his fingers brushing over the rough parchment. After a moment of silence, he folded it up and tucked it away. "I don't have a plan," he admitted, his voice calm but resolute.
The group exchanged uncertain glances, the weight of his words settling over them. Loris frowned. "What do you mean you don't have a plan? We're about to go up against 500 men."
Calvin sat straighter in his saddle, his piercing blue eyes sweeping over the soldiers gathered before him. "I don't need a plan because we already know what needs to be done. We don't need a strategy to remind us who we are or why we're here. These men stand between us and victory, between us and the future we're fighting for."
He turned his gaze to Kieran, Seraphina, and Garven, his voice growing stronger. "You've all fought battles that seemed unwinnable. You've faced down horrors that would break lesser souls. And yet, here you are, standing with me now. Not because of orders, not because of duty—but because you believe in what we're fighting for."
He addressed the rest of the soldiers, his voice carrying over the field. "Look around you. These people, your brothers in arms, are your strength. Together, we're more than just a collection of warriors. We're a force that cannot be stopped, not by numbers, not by walls, not by fear."
Calvin unsheathed his sword, holding it high. The gleaming blade caught the fading sunlight, reflecting it onto the faces of the soldiers. "So I don't have a plan. What I have is faith—in all of you. In your courage, your resolve, and your ability to fight like hell for what's right. And that will be enough."
A wave of determination swept through the ranks, soldiers gripping their weapons tighter and straightening in their saddles. Loris grinned faintly, nodding his approval.
Garven smirked. "Well, that's one way to get us fired up."
Kieran glanced at Calvin, his expression unreadable, before giving a single nod of acknowledgment.
Seraphina smiled faintly, murmuring to herself, "Leave it to Calvin to turn chaos into conviction."
Calvin lowered his sword, the intensity in his gaze unyielding. "Let's show them what the Protectors are made of." The air buzzed with the sound of clashing steel and the roaring cheers of Calvin's soldiers as they charged behind their leader, the thundering hooves of horses shaking the ground beneath them. Calvin rode at the front, his cape billowing, his sword gleaming in the sunlight, and the Protectors surged forward like an unyielding tide.
Ahead, Ashren men had already spotted them. The enemy forces raised their weapons and let out a battle cry, charging to meet them head-on. Archers stationed on makeshift barricades notched their arrows, their strings taut as they aimed at the advancing army.
In the chaos, Barrick surged to the forefront of the Protectors' line. His bald head gleamed with sweat under the sun as he hefted his massive warhammer, the sigil of the Protectors etched boldly on the head of the weapon. Archers loosed a volley of arrows, and a dozen of Azula's soldiers charged straight at him, swords raised and shields locked.
With a mighty roar, Barrick leaped into the air, his warhammer held high above his head. The archers shifted their aim, loosing their arrows mid-flight, but Barrick twisted his body with practiced precision, the arrows skimming past him harmlessly.
Then, he came crashing down.
The warhammer struck the earth with the force of an earthquake, a booming sound echoing across the battlefield. The ground beneath his impact cratered and fractured outward, jagged fissures snaking through the dirt and knocking the charging soldiers off their feet. Several were thrown backward, landing in heaps of metal and dust, their shields and weapons scattered.
The shockwave rippled outward, dislodging the archers from their perches. Some toppled to the ground with cries of panic, while others struggled to regain their footing as the vibrations sent tremors through the barricades.
Dust and debris filled the air, creating a veil of chaos that masked the movements of Calvin's soldiers as they pressed the attack. The stunned cries of Azula's men echoed as they struggled to regroup, their formation broken. Calvin, Kieran, and Seraphina surged forward, their weapons gleaming as they led the charge into the disoriented enemy lines.
The battlefield erupted into an all-out war as blades clashed, arrows flew, and the cacophony of shouts and battle cries filled the air. Barrick stood in the center of the devastation, his warhammer resting on the cracked earth, a grim smile on his face. Calvin and Loris led the charge with relentless precision, their swords flashing in the chaos as they cut down Azula's soldiers. Riding side by side, they pushed through the broken ranks, their steeds trampling over enemy formations as they drove forward, their eyes locked on the looming castle ahead.
Kieran trailed behind, urging his horse to close the distance. The battlefield was a whirlwind of bodies and blood, but his focus was sharp. He was determined to catch up.
Just as he broke through the disarray, his peripheral vision caught a hulking figure moving with intent. Turning his head, he saw a massive man—easily towering over any soldier—wielding an enormous sword that gleamed ominously under the sky.
The man swung his blade in a devastating arc. Kieran reacted just in time, pulling his own colossal sword from its sheath and blocking the strike with a resounding clang that sent shockwaves through his arms and rattled his bones.
The force of the impact pushed Kieran back slightly, but he held firm, his feet steady in the stirrups.
The man snarled, his voice a guttural roar that cut through the din of battle. "An orc working with humans?! Human or not, it doesn't matter. You'll die like the rest of them!"
Kieran smirked, his tusks gleaming as he adjusted his grip on his blade. "Sure, buddy. You keep dreaming."
Their swords clashed again, sparks flying as the weight of their blows shook the air around them