Inside the general's tent, the air was thick with tension as Elowen, Alaric, Cedric, and the general huddled around a worn wooden table scattered with maps and hastily scribbled notes.
Elowen's sharp voice cut through the room like a blade. "listen carefully, gentlemen. We only have one plan—plan A. given our absurdly limited resources, it has to be executed perfectly if we're going to stand any chance of surviving this." Her piercing gaze locked onto each man in turn, ensuring their full attention.
"here's how it goes: mages will buff the archers first. When the orcs enter range, I'll strike first to create an opening. Immediately after that, unleash the volley of fire arrows—they won't eliminate all of them, but they'll thin the numbers. Whatever's left, I'll hold them off again for a second wave while you switch to normal arrows. This is where we chip them down further. At this phase, redirect mage buffs to the vanguard—but don't march yet. Let the orcs come to us. The vanguard holds the line, supported by healing when needed, while your archers move to crosbows and start sniping from atop the fortress walls. I'll handle mid-range threats myself. Our goal here isn't perfection—it's survival. Hold them off long enough for Liora to arrive and hopefully finish what we can't." she paused, her tone softening slightly but still resolute.
"it's not much, but it's the best we've got. Now drill this steps into every soldier until they dream about it. Understood?" the men responded with firm nods, determination etched on their faces despite the grim reality of their situation.
Even the general managed a weak smile, muttering under his breath, "well, at least we're not planning to fight with turnips this time."
Outside the tent, Gawain and Lucien moved briskly among the bustling preparations, inspecting every detail with practiced efficiency. Weapons were sharpened, armor patched up, and ration crates double-checked to ensure no one would be stuck eating last season's questionable preserves.
"remind me again why we let them pack dried apples?" Lucien grumbled, poking suspiciously at a barrel labeled Emergency snacks. Gawain chuckled lightly, patting her shoulder. "because dried apples are morale boosters—or so they claim. Besides, better apples than boiled socks!"
Nearby, women citizens worked tirelessly alongside soldiers, preparing bandages, organizing medical tents, and even cooking meals infused with extra care (and perhaps a dash of desperation).
"these emergency wards need to be ready for anything," Gawain instructed firmly, glancing over the rows of makeshift cots. "mages can heal wounds, but sometimes stitches take priority—and soup always helps."
Lucien raised an eyebrow. "soup? Really? What is it with you and soup?" Gawain grinned mischievously. "soup fixes everything—even bad strategies." Despite the levity, there was no mistaking the unity in the camp.
Every person, whether soldier or civilian, shared a singular hope: that their combined efforts would grant them victory—or at least survival—against the impending orc horde.
Meanwhile, Liora stood in the vast, serene field, her brow furrowed with concentration as Solara's voice echoed around her like a mix of instruction and relentless commentary.
The phoenix had been teaching—and nagging—for what felt like hours, but Liora didn't falter. She absorbed every word, every critique, without complaint, focusing intently on mastering the basics or at least getting a slight grasp of them.
Surprisingly, Solara seemed almost impressed by this. "I have to admit," the phoenix said, tilting her head slightly as she watched Liora stumble through another attempt, "you're handling my 'art of nagging' better than most would. I don't know how you can keep your spirit up with all this." Liora paused for a moment, brushing a strand of hair from her face before replying shyly,
"umm… actually, it's not much different from daily academy days for me." She giggled softly, clearly amused by her own comparison. Solara rolled her massive golden eyes, letting out an exaggerated sigh.
"of course it isn't. you humans are weirdly resilient when it comes to enduring lectures—or maybe you've just mastered the art of pretending to listen." Despite her teasing tone, there was warmth in her gaze, as though she couldn't help but admire Liora's determination.
Finally Solara straightened up, her wings flaring dramatically as she prepared to push Liora further. "alright, enough theory—time to put it into practice. Remember: magic is energy plus creativity. That's all. Channel your energy and bring it forth into existence using your imagination—but don't forget to adjust the flow and behavior of that energy to match what you're creating. Want something big? Use more energy. Want to attack? Make the energy aggressive and shape it accordingly. And whatever you do, don't think about making jellies if you're trying to shoot down an enemy!" she punctuated this last remark with a sharp flick of her tail, eliciting a nervous laugh from Liora.
Taking a deep breath, Liora nodded firmly and focused, attempting to summon the concepts Solara had drilled into her. For a brief moment, sparks flickered in the air—but then fizzled out pathetically.
Before Liora could even react, Solara bellowed, "try again!" her booming voice carried both frustration and encouragement, echoing across the endless field. Liora winced briefly but quickly steadied herself, determined to get it right—even if it meant enduring another round of Solara's fiery critiques.
The cycle of lessons had become relentless loop: Solara would explain a theory, Liora would nod in understanding, attempt to practice it, fail miserably, and then endure Solara's pointed nagging before starting all over again.
It felt like weeks—or even months—had passed in this endless grind, and fatigue was beginning to creep into Liora's mind, pulling her focus away from the task at hand.
Sensing the shift, Solara crossed her wings sternly and fixed Liora with a sharp gaze. "alright, spill it. What's going on? Starting to give up, girl? Your mind seems like it's off sipping tea somewhere." Liora sighed, catching her breath as she admitted.
"i… I was just wondering how long I've been here. It feels like forever. And I can't stop thinking about the kingdom—are they safe? Did they win? Is Evelyn…" her voice faltered, trembling with worry.
Solara groaned dramatically, shaking her head. "dumb girl, you're on the verge of collapse yourself and still worrying about others? Focus, Liora! Besides, time flows differently here—a day for us is barely an hour out there. So quit fretting about them and worry about surviving this instead!" Liora's eyes widened in shock.
"what?! So a week here would be… what, a day outside? or ten hours?" Solara rolled her eyes, clearly uninterested in math problems.
"figure it out yourself—I'm not your secretary or accountant! Now get your beautiful but distractible body back here and try again!" she bellowed, though there was an undeniable note of fondness beneath the exasperation.
She's so annoyed, not realizing Liora has passed out of exhaustion.
When Liora finally regained consciousness, she found Solara standing a short distance away, her massive form silhouetted against the serene field like a watchful mother waiting for her child to wake.
"i—I'm sorry… did I sleep too long?" Liora asked hesitantly, bracing herself for another round of scolding. Solara turned her head slowly, her golden eyes locking onto Liora with an unreadable expression.
"I have to tell you this, girl. You're stronger than Felix when it comes to enduring my nagging. But as for learning speed…" she paused, tilting her head with a smirk.
"well, let's just say you suck." Liora giggled nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. "i—I'm so sorry…" Solara shook her head slightly, her tone softening as she continued.
"listen, I can guide you on channeling your mana—that's what we call it, to differentiate it from ordinary energy—but creativity? That's all you. It has to come from within." Liora nodded earnestly, determination flickering in her gaze. "I'll try harder, I promise."
Solara regarded her quietly for a moment before speaking again, her voice uncharacteristically gentle this time. "here's one last tip: imagine something that touches you deeply—something you'd remember even if you lost everything else. Something so vivid, it feels alive in your mind." Liora's eyes widened, her expression shifting as though a veil had been lifted.
"ah… thank you so much, Solara! I think I understand now—I might have some ideas." Solara chuckled warmly, clearly pleased. "then let's see it." Liora stood up straight, focusing intently as she began channeling her mana, for a brief moment.
There was silence—then a loud boom erupted, sending dust and dirt flying into the air. When the chaos settled, the target practice strawman lay charred and destroyed. Liora jumped excitedly, pumping her fists into the air with glee. Solara laughed heartily, her regal demeanor cracking into genuine pride. "you got it, girl."
After Liora had practiced the newly acquired skill repeatedly, mastering it to the point where it felt as natural as turning the back of her hand, Solara regarded her with a proud gleam in her golden eyes.
"now, are you ready for your trial, girl?" she asked, her tone calm yet filled with gravity. Liora nodded eagerly, her voice steady despite the anticipation bubbling within her. "I'm ready."
Solara's expression softened, and she added warmly, "good, but take some rest first. You'll need every ounce of strength for what's ahead." As Liora settled down to recuperate, Solara spoke again, her voice carrying the weight of timeless wisdom.
"remember this, Liora: even when you gain immense power in the future, never lose sight of who you are. Power can shape or break a person—don't let it twist you into someone you'd regret becoming when you're older." Liora met her gaze, resolve shining in her eyes as she replied earnestly,
"yes, ma'am. I'll never forget that." Her smile was one of gratitude and quiet relief, knowing she carried not just newfound strength, but also the guidance to wield it with humility and purpose.