The view of the city was hard to tear my eyes from, yet the Holy Order of Silver's visible absence made me nervous. Of course, they would be approaching from the other side, where a valley and then a few distant mountains may obfuscate their presence, especially if they were taking the head-on approach. With a deep breath, I closed my eyes, awaiting the faint glimmer of their aura.

“I can sense them… way off over there,” I gestured vaguely to the southwest. “Should we summon Safir to—”

“No,” Relias interrupted before I could finish. “We are close enough to Corwin’s stronghold that I am confident his scouts have already spotted us. Let us pause here and grant him the chance to engage without interruption.”

I tensed. “Engage? Is he planning to start a fight?”

Relias shook his head as he dismounted. “Perhaps 'engage' was not the best choice of words. He will simply advance his troops, drawing the attention of Pravum's private army and forcing him to respond in kind. It won't deceive them for very long, though. Just long enough for Pravum to fumble his initial strategy.”

Right. We hoped Pravum would send most of his forces to confront Corwin, given that Relias had left the city with him. Our little parade, however, would hit the opposite gate as royal escorts. We were flying the colors of Amantia, which just also happened to match the uniform Raelynn had commissioned for herself so long ago. Was it just a coincidence that all four colors of the Holy Order were incorporated into Amantia’s royal coat of arms? Or was Raelynn hinting at some deeper rifts among the church, the Holy Orders, and perhaps the ruling party here in Ecclesia even before the battle against the original demon king? Maybe the recent unrest around here actually stemmed from long-standing problems?

“Well, duh,” Nora quipped from behind, seemingly reading my thoughts.

“Huh?” I turned around with a start but realized she was talking to Tetora.

“He was wondering if you would let us eat now,” she explained. “You wouldn’t send us in there on empty stomachs! Would you?”

“Right… Short break, everyone,” I ordered. “But be ready to move at a moment’s notice.” It’d be nice if this place could be marked as our final save point before our next confrontation.

After a hasty meal of leftover provisions, I sat with Nora, gazing at the sparkling city. How long did it take for people living there to adjust to the constant light? It must be difficult to fall asleep with it shining and sparkling everywhere all night long.

Nora jumped up abruptly. “Ah! So, the barrier isn’t physical!”

“Hmm?” I asked, distracted by the closest rotating crystal. It must be several stories high! How is it defying gravity like that?

“Up there,” she said, pointing to a flock of geese. “They just flew through the shimmer. I was wondering if they were going to smack into it as if it was a closed window or pass through.”

Sure enough, they were winging their way through the middle of the city, eventually settling down somewhere beyond our sight. “Huh,” I remarked. “I guess I never even thought about it. Could you imagine being a window wiper for a dome like that?” I laughed. “Your job would never end!” Maybe that was a little too frustratingly familiar…

After Nora's chuckle faded, I took a few moments to survey our group, mentally preparing myself for what would be coming next. Relias, to my surprise, was in deep discussion with Prince Mito and Father Irijah. Whatever they were talking about appeared quite serious, with Prince Mito occasionally referring to the written orders his father gave him. Father Irijah, while nodding his head in agreement, kept wringing his sweaty hands together.

Aleph, Tetora, and Vernie were limbering up in preparation for a fight that I prayed would never come to fruition. I watched Vernie take out and replace several knives from all sorts of curious locations on her body. She might be wearing our colors on the outside, but she’s armed to the teeth underneath.

The soldiers accompanying us were unpacking their standards carefully, ensuring none of the long silk pennants accidentally touched the ground. They then attached them to long lances, righting them to sway proudly in the gentle breeze. Well, now is as good a time as any…

“Once everyone is ready and on my command, we will soon head for Chairo’s North Gate,” I announced. “I’m sure I’m being tedious at this point, but I expect all of you to watch out for each other. Our journey here was a little too easy, and I think fate may have been saving its coins to splurge on some chaos right at our journey’s end.”

Many solemn nods accompanied a few lackluster chuckles. I glanced once again at Relias, somewhat suspicious he was making some last-minute plans that both had me involved and yet uninformed. “I want you to expect the unexpected here. We know that Chairo is a bit reluctant to let us in, so we may have to devise some imaginative ways to get them to open the door. Be ready to respond to any command, no matter how outlandish. I promise that offensive tactics will be a last resort. After all, the pay’s the same whether we fight or not.”

A general murmur filled the air, and I let it simmer for some self-reflection before continuing. “Above all else, I want you to protect His Highness…” I trailed off as my eyes were pulled to the visibly quivering older priest. “And Father Irijah, as well.”

In my head, I heard, “You know, it's Relias who is far, far older. You meant the ‘older-looking’ priest.”

Aha… just passing by again? Well, Raedine, what else do you have to add?

“Chairo’s larger than I remember it. Shinier, too.”

And?

“That’s all. As Lady Nora would say, you got this.”

“Chosen One?” One of the soldiers waved her hand to get my attention. “Any other instructions?”

Oof! They caught me spacing out. “Uh, not at this time. Any questions?”

They all shook their heads slowly.

“Temporarily dismissed,” I announced, though I was the one leaving them.

“No pep talk?” Nora asked upon my return.

“I’ll come up with something short and sweet once we start moving… eh?”

At first, it was barely perceptible—a low, soft thrum that resonated through the ground. But as the seconds ticked by, the sound grew steadily louder, a series of synchronized footfalls echoing through the giant, shallow valley that separated us from Chairo and the unmistakable source of that sound, the Holy Order of Silver.

Their armor clanked rhythmically across the fields before us. Not being able to see them was a bit maddening, but my anxious irritation vanished the moment they began to belt out an age-old battle hymn. While the words became indiscernible before reaching my ears, their deep chanting thudded through the air, stirring something almost primal in the shadowed depths of my head. How could I hear it from so far away?

I anticipated each forthcoming note just before they struck, the ancient song resonating in my very core. Adrenaline surged through my veins, heightening my senses so that everything appeared to have an oversaturation of color. Before I knew it, I was in Aurum’s saddle, the leather reins gripped tightly in one hand and my sword in the other, half-drawn and blazing brighter than ever.

“Captain Lightbringer!” Relias’s startled shout brought me back to reality like a cold splash of water to the face.

“What… just happened?” I asked, looking around in astonishment.

“Hold your position!” he shouted again, and I noticed I had already led Aurum into a canter. “Sorry, Aurum… false start.”

“He’s become such a senile old fool, resorting to such weak tactics!”

It was not Raedine’s voice this time but the voice of another since-departed hero who had insulted me a while back for not being battle-ready.

“You are still unworthy, insolent cur! By not declaring war, you waste the glory of the soldiers who follow you!”

I would rather they live through this day, thank you. If you haven’t noticed, we’re outnumbered here!

“Sorry…” Raedine’s voice replied. “She slipped away from me when I was distracted. I hadn’t heard that chant in a long time.”

You’re… holding her back?

“Yes, for now. She is eager to fight because that’s the only thing she knows how to do. But this just isn’t her time.”

“I would humbly ask that you come down from your saddle for the time being, Captain,” Relias declared through tight teeth. “You’re sending mixed signals to the troops.”

With a grimace, I jumped down and mumbled, “I’m sorry… I don’t know what came over me…” It wasn’t a complete fib since the other hero had again refused to tell me her name.

“Today, you must maintain a sense of decorum, above all else,” he instructed in a tedious, teacher-like tone. “As the steadfast and unwavering hero, your reputation must remain unblemished. Launching into a battle frenzy does not align with such goals.”

It hadn’t been my choice, but I couldn’t tell him that.

“Why?” I asked, opting for abject defiance rather than a second apology for something I had little control over. “What is it you're planning with those two, anyway?” I gestured to his two accomplices, eliciting a guilty look from Prince Mito and Father Irijah.

“He can’t tell you, or your reactions won’t be genuine,” His Highness admitted. “Just know that I approve of the plan as well.” More method acting! Gah!

Father Irijah squirmed suspiciously. “And I second it…”

I stared at both of them for a while to make them that much more uncomfortable. “Fiiine,” I eventually hissed at the duo, still grappling with the lingering rage stirred by the unknown hero.

“I promise it’ll be worth it,” Prince Mito assured me.

“It better be,” I muttered darkly.

Holy Sage Relias, however, seemed unfazed by my obstinance. “We will await Pravum's response to Corwin before we proceed. And once we reach the gates, Captain, I would request your silence until I indicate otherwise.”

Now I’m not even allowed to talk?!

“Ouch.” Nora winced. “Your Holiness, don’t be surprised if you get kicked in the shin several times during your next dance lesson.”

“Why would I get…” He stopped, looking at my crimson-covered face. “I meant no offense! But your words, any and all, will be twisted and used against you. Please, just let me guide you on this…!”

“Fine, fine,” I said again, meaning it this time. “I’m just… anxious.”

“As we all are,” Relias sighed, sympathetically patting my shoulder. “Forgive my unintentional callousness; I tend to focus on hotspots.”

“How much longer should we wait?” I asked uncomfortably, trying to change the subject. “I know we have to give Pravum some time to respond, but how will we know when—”

A colossal eruption of silver brilliance soared into the sky, painting broad streaks that flared and faded like a daytime firework. The explosive burst was accompanied by a piercing whistle that reverberated across the expanse, prompting us to shield our ears despite our considerable distance from its epicenter.

“That, Chosen One,” Relias shouted, “would be the subtle signal to let us know that Pravum’s army has surged forth from the southern gate in a show of force.”

“Subtle, you say…” I scoffed, though I couldn’t hear my words as my ears still rang with the blast’s final echoes.