Finn arrives at the Sanctuary with Mira and John, his eyes scanning the crowded hall for Risa. She should have come with Audrey and the rest of her team. She has to be here somewhere.
He also sees wounded knights being carried by their comrades into the healing chamber. Shouts echo through the air, mingling with the scent of blood and sweat.
To his surprise, he spots Alan and Esta nearby, and Esta is cuddling a young boy.
“Alan! Esta! You’re safe!” Finn calls out, gesturing for Mira to join the others as he approaches. “Is this your boy?”
Alan and Esta, like the rest of the townspeople, bear the marks of a frantic escape: dishevelled hair, rumpled clothes, exhaustion in their eyes. An elderly woman stands beside them, her face lined with worry.
Alan lets out a relieved breath. “Finn! It’s good to see you in one piece.” He places a reassuring hand on the boy’s shoulder. “This is our son, Micah. And this is my mother-in-law, Mrs Heather.”
Finn offers a polite nod. “Pleased to meet you, Mrs Heather, Micah. I met your parents during the hunting expedition.”
Mrs Heather maintains her composure, bowing slightly in response, though the tension in her expression is unmistakable.
Micah, barely able to keep his eyes open, clings sleepily to his mother. The noise and chaos around them seem to be nothing more than a distant murmur to the half-asleep child.
Finn doesn’t mind their silence, as hardly anyone can keep their wits about them in time like this.
“Have you seen Lucille?” he asks Alan. “Was she with you?”
Alan shakes his head. “Last I saw her, we were distributing the spoils at the guild. She should be here, though—she lives close to the Sanctuary. Probably one of the first to arrive.”
Esta nods. “Yes, she was keeping your share of the spoils, too. She wanted to pass them to you when you got back. Speaking of which, how did you return to town?”
Finn scratches the back of his head. “Long story. I’ll tell you when we’ve got time to sit down properly.”
Esta hesitates, glancing at Micah before looking back at Finn. “We also owe you an apology—for lying about Neo and Patrick.” She lowers her voice. “Micah has a chronic illness. He needs long-term medication. That’s why we kept hunting, even after Neo was gone.”
Alan sighs. “It was our decision. Lucille only went along with it to help us. Even so, we put you in danger, and for that, we’re truly sorry.”
Alan bows deeply, and Esta follows suit.
Micah, oblivious to the conversation, has drifted off into sleep.
Finn places a hand on Alan’s shoulder, gently lifting him upright. “It’s in the past now. What’s done is done. Right now, we have more pressing matters.” His voice is calm but firm.
Before anyone can say more, a loud voice rings through the hall.
“Attention, everyone! We need to register all of you. Please form two lines: hunters on the left, non-hunters on the right. Now!”
Alan and Esta exchange a glance before gently kissing Micah on his forehead. Esta then passes the sleeping boy to Mrs Heather. The grandmother clutches Micah protectively and murmurs a worried prayer as she sends off the boy’s parents.
The knights move swiftly, organising the crowd. Finn falls into line behind Alan and Esta, waiting for his turn.
As they stand in line, he catches snippets of hushed conversations around him.
“…first time since the Dark Time…”
“…B-rank and A-rank predators…”
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“…knights… outnumbered…”
“…barrier weakening…”
He still hasn’t spotted Risa or his other hunting crews. They must be further back in the queue.
A nun moves down the line, handing out forms. Finn takes one and quickly scans the questions until his eyes land on a particular section.
Will you fight on the frontlines? Yes / No
So that’s why they’re separating the hunters. It’s not just for a headcount. It’s to assess their available manpower for the battlefield. Unlike knights, hunters aren’t bound by duty to protect the town. But Finn knows the truth: If the knights fall, Mistwood falls. And if Mistwood falls, no one is safe. Still, there'll always be some in perfect health who choose to stay out of the fight to protect their own lives.
He circles Yes without hesitation and fills out the rest of the form.
Before handing it back, he turns to the nun. “Will magicians of the same rank be grouped together?”
The nun shakes her head. “That, I cannot say. But once the forms are processed, you’ll be placed into small teams for battle.”
She passes his form to a knight, who glances over it before pointing towards a door. “This way.”
Finn follows the direction given, stepping into a large room already filled with nearly a hundred hunters. His gaze sweeps the crowd, then lands on familiar faces.
Alan and Esta are here, speaking with Lucille.
Lucille spots him before he even reaches them. She waves enthusiastically, then grabs his hand and shakes it vigorously. “Finn! You’re alive! Oh, by the Queen, it’s so good to see you in one piece!” She’s as lively as ever.
Finn chuckles, returning the handshake. “Glad to see you too, Lucille.”
They exchange brief greetings before Lucille motions to the room. “So, everyone here chose to fight, huh? Are we waiting for more, or are they going to start giving orders soon?”
It doesn’t take long for Finn to notice something: They’re all either magicians or ranged fighters. That explains why Steve and Frank aren’t here. Rathen is injured, and Caroline is too young. But Risa…
A figure enters the room, short hair swaying as she walks—Risa!
Their eyes meet, and she makes a beeline for him, Clementine trailing behind her.
“Finn! I knew I’d find you here!” she grins, relief evident in her voice.
“Audrey has been directed to another room, and since my other two comrades are still injured, only Clementine and I are here.”
Clementine greets him as well, and Finn takes a moment to introduce them both to Lucille’s team.
Lucille raises a brow. “So, this is the girl you’ve been—”
Finn clears his throat loudly, cutting her off. “Ahem—the knight is coming in. Let’s hear what they have to say.”
The room falls silent as the Knight Lieutenant, Theodore Brooks, strides in, his heavy armour clanking with each step. His speech is brief and to the point.
“You are here because you have chosen to fight for Mistwood. As your Knight Lieutenant, I thank you for your bravery. Mistwood is in danger, and we need your help.” His tone is grave, but unwavering.
“We need your long-range support. Your spells and arrows will provide cover for the knights and hunters on the frontlines. If they fall, you must ensure the wounded can retreat.
“Our magic barrier is weakening, so we need each of you to act fast and form a group of five to six. Select your own squad leader, and each group will receive a bag of magic vaults.”
With that, he turns and strides out, already on his way to the next place. Some knights follow him, while others stay behind to distribute supplies.
A senior knight stands in front, giving quick tactical instructions. He points to the board, highlighting key areas and explaining the types of predators, their strengths, and their weaknesses.
Risa glances at Finn and whispers. “It’s my first time in a battlefield… Do you have experience?”
Finn meets her gaze. “Yes. Stick close to me, alright?”
Risa, usually cheerful, mirrors his seriousness. She straightens and gives a small salute. “Understood, Mr Finn.”
Finn grins. “And not just you. Clementine, too. We’ll stick together and watch each other’s backs.”
Lucille laughs. “Well, count us in too.” She nods towards Alan and Esta.
Once everyone has their magic vaults, the knights begin dividing them into small groups.
Finn, Risa, Clementine, Lucille, Alan, and Esta request to be assigned together and are stationed at the back to provide support. Without hesitation, they unanimously elect Finn as their leader. He gladly accepts the responsibility and, after speaking with each of them, assigns their roles accordingly, giving clear directions on group formation and key battlefield considerations.
After a quick briefing, Finn addresses his comrades with a solemn and firm tone. “I know you all chose me as your leader not just because I’ve been on the battlefield before, but because you trust me and my judgment. I will not let you down. Our mission is not only to defeat the predators and defend Mistwood but also to ensure that everyone in this group returns safely to their families.”
They stand ready, waiting for the signal.
Clementine, Alan, and Esta exchange wary glances, the air thick with silent tension. Meanwhile, Risa and Lucille remain poised, their excitement undimmed. Lucille meticulously polishes her blades, eyes scanning for the slightest imperfection.
