When Magisteria declared war on the Cult, historians would later mark this as the first domino that pushed other kingdoms to follow. The second major declaration came from Andhratha Kingdom, its king publicly joining the conflict.
This meant nearly half of humankind now stood united against the Cult. Cassian couldn't fathom where the Cult would find enough forces to withstand such opposition, with every territory surrounding the Ancient Forest preparing to descend upon them.
Yet the Ancient Forest also bordered lands belonging to other species - territories about which Cassian knew nothing. Humans hadn't made contact with these beings for over two thousand years; such interaction had been strictly forbidden since ancient times.
Well, that happened After the Species War thousands of years ago, contact between humans and other races had been severed—though Cassian had read scattered accounts in history books of earlier times. There had been free cities once, places where multiple species mingled freely. Even Magisteria's monuments hinted at this forgotten past—beneath the statue of the woman known as "The Guiding Flame of Freedom," inscriptions still referenced "human free cities," implying others like them had once existed for different species.
Did such places still survive somewhere? No one knew. The other species might have vanished entirely—or simply retreated beyond reach.
What was certain were the natural barriers between territories—fortified not by walls, but by creatures so lethal they enforced isolation. And the Ancient Forest, where the Cult now festered? It was precisely that kind of impenetrable border.
Despite the initial fervor after the declaration, the reality two days later was more subdued. The city buzzed with preparation rather than action - volunteers training, soldiers drilling, mages honing their spells. Everyone wanted to march on the Cult immediately, but war machines moved slower than passions.
Cassian pondered the practicalities as he watched new recruits spar. He'd faced Cultists before - dangerous individually, but never in overwhelming numbers. How could they possibly stand against the combined might of kingdoms? Magisteria alone fielded ten thousand seasoned warriors and battle mages, all warriors being at least first circle and mages being at least ranked Emberlings. That didn't even count the regular troops.
The army stood strong at thirty thousand well-trained warriors, with several thousand more in training, doubling the numbers of many rival forces.
In Andhartha kingdom, only a few territories boasted larger armies, namely the royal family and the Ven Dyke Duchy, whose forces were not only greater in number but also included circle warriors ranging up to the ninth circle. Rumors even circulated that both families had warriors in the double-digit ranks, a staggering feat given the immense difficulty of reaching such levels. Yet, it was believable, as those who attained such ranks could live indefinitely unless killed in battle, since no circle warrior of that rank had ever been recorded dying of natural causes.
As Cassian pondered the war effort, he sparred with Robert and Lumine, helping them train. He handled them with such ease that he could think about other matters without breaking focus, only needing to guide them occasionally. "Lumine, cover your openings if you can't attack at full speed," he advised, noting that her swift sword style, built on rapid strikes, often left gaps in her defense. Not every attack was fast enough to prevent a counter, and Cassian demonstrated this by lightly tapping her with his wooden sword, just enough to highlight her vulnerabilities. Frustrated, Lumine tried to apply his advice.
It wasn't easy, as the swift sword style prioritized speed above all else, but Cassian was teaching her that speed could also be used for blocking, deflecting, and other defensive maneuvers, not just attacking.
Robert's fighting style caught Cassian off guard. He had assumed Robert relied on the principle of raw power, wielding a heavy sword with forceful strikes, which he did—his moves carried immense strength. But surprisingly, Robert mixed in unconventional attacks: a slash that shifted into a stab mid-motion, sudden kicks, punches, and other unpredictable maneuvers. If Cassian had to guess, it resembled the principles of shadow, blending deception and versatility. He suspected Robert might even carry a hidden weapon, a trait common among those whose sword styles incorporated the essence of shadow, like Robert's.
The sparring session was in full swing—Cassian ducked under Lumine's sweeping strike, pivoted to block Robert's jab—when a soldier's voice cut through the clatter of steel:
"Which one of you is Cassian?"
Cassian straightened, wiping sweat from his brow. The others lowered their blades as he eyed the messenger. "Who's asking?"
The soldier snapped to attention. "Commander Julius." A beat. "Your team's mission details are ready."
Lumine whistled low. Robert's grip tightened on his practice sword.
Cassian tossed his weapon to the dirt. "Guess we're done playing."
Team 22 approached the commander's tent without guessing—they'd hear their assignment soon enough. Inside, only Julius stood, his desk nearly buried under stacks of paperwork. Cassian understood why; wars produced endless reports, far too many for any message relay board to handle, and even if they could, every detail still needed to be recorded.
The group snapped to attention in unison. As law enforcement veterans, Cassian and his trainees knew Julius well. But for Wanni and the siblings, this marked their first direct interaction with the legendary commander.
"At ease," Julius said, looking up from his documents with a smile that made Wanni and Althea flush slightly. His charisma radiated even in the dim tent light. "How was your brief leave? And how's Katherine faring?"
"The lady's been well, Commander Julius," Cassian replied, his posture relaxed yet respectful.
Julius gave a satisfied nod before straightening the papers before him. "Good. Now for your assignment—unfortunately, you'll be operating far beyond city borders. Our neighboring forces were caught unprepared by a sudden monster onslaught. They've requested aid, and we're dispatching a thousand troops to stabilize their situation." He tapped the map spread across his desk. "Your unit will be among them."
Cassian stiffened, biting back his disapproval. Orders were orders, after all. With a sharp salute, he replied, "Understood, sir. But—which neighboring force are we assisting? Just so my men know what to expect."
Julius shook his head, his voice dropping to a cautious murmur. "Your battalion commander will brief you on that. We're keeping troop movements quiet—loose lips could ruin our advantage in the early stages. So keep it tight, understood?" He exhaled, rubbing his temple before adding, "But that's not why I called you in, Cassian. This is something else." A pause, then a dismissive wave to the others. "Everyone out. Cassian—you stay."