Hamdal explained the revelation Legolas had brought, that Elena Moonshadow possesses the pure bloodline of the Moon God.
"The Eclipse Beasts have a singular, fatal weakness," Hamdal explained.
"Sunlight. It incinerates them. It is the only reason we haven't been wiped out yet. But they have found a way to bypass it."
He described the horrific experiment in the dilapidated castle: the Dark Elf child, the blood extraction, and the "Daywalker" results.
"They used a minor bloodline and created beasts that could stand in the sun for minutes. But Elena? Her blood is pure. If they capture her and harvest her bloodline, the Eclipse Beasts will no longer be bound by the night. They will become a permanent, unstoppable plague that can hunt us at high noon."
Hamdal looked Grey directly in the eyes, his gaze piercing.
"The Academy is no longer safe for her. My walls were breached by them once; they will try again with an army next time. Your mission is to keep her moving. A moving target is harder to hit than a stationary one."
"You goal is to reach the neutral territories near Grimhold and eventually the Elven border." Hamdal continued in a grave tone.
"You are being hunted by an unknown but powerful enemy, a High Commander of the Eclipse Beasts. He will send everything—assassins, monsters, and traitors—to get her."
"I've put you in charge because you have the one thing most soldiers lack," Hamdal said.
"You don't follow a manual. You survive. I need you to keep those kids alive and, above all, keep Elena out of their hands."
Hamdal reached into his desk and pulled out a small, unassuming black stone on a silver chain.
"This is a Void Signal. If—and only if—you are at the brink of total annihilation, break it. I will come. But it will take time for me to traverse the distance. You must hold the line until then."
Grey looked at the stone, then at his bandaged hand. The weight of the continent was now resting on his shoulders.
"I understand, Headmaster," Grey said, his voice steady. "I'll get her there."
"I know you will," Hamdal replied. "Now go. You have two days to pack and prepare. And Grey? Don't die. I'd hate to lose my best student before he even graduates." Hamdal said with a smile.
******
The Grand Hall of the Godoka Palace was a cavernous space of cold marble and high, arched ceilings that amplified every whisper.
Nearly a hundred young men and women from every corner of the kingdom were gathered there, their voices creating a restless hum of anxiety.
In one corner, huddled together like a small herd in a storm, were the Ironwood recruits. Austin stood at the center, his skin still tender from Shina's training, his eyes darting around at the polished nobility and the rough-hewn commoners alike.
"What now? Why are we here?" Joran whispered, his voice cracking.
Shina, usually so confident, kept her hands tight at her sides. Her violet eyes scanned the room, looking for an exit or a threat.
"I don't know. I guess we'll be briefed about what to do from here on out," she replied, her voice low. For the first time, she looked as oblivious and confused as the rest of them.
The murmurs died instantly as a group of figures ascended the high platform at the far end of the hall.
The air in the room suddenly felt heavy, as if the oxygen had been replaced by lead. The pressure radiating from the men on stage was physical, a silent command for absolute silence that even the most rebellious youth felt in their marrow.
Weston stepped forward. Behind him stood the ancient, looming presence of Lord Brahma, the advisor Agni, and a row of stern-faced ministers.
"Welcome, young warriors," Weston announced, his voice booming without the need for effort.
He didn't waste time with pleasantries. He spoke of the Eclipse Army, of the encroaching darkness, and the desperate need for blood on the frontlines.
"I won't waste time explaining anything more, since your clan heads would have explained everything about why you all are here already." Weston continued.
"But here's a catch. Not all of you will have the opportunity to go to the academy... guess that's also something you knew about." Weston smirked, seeing the unsurprised expressions below.
"The most talented among you—those who have already Awakened or show the immediate potential for Aura—will be sent to the Veridian Academy," He declared.
"You will be honed into the elite. The rest of you... the rest will be sent to the frontline training camps. You will learn to hold a spear in the mud, and you will be deployed as the vanguard of our forces."
A series of collective gasps rippled through the hall. Terror, cold and sharp, took hold of the crowd.
Every youth there knew what "vanguard" meant: they were to be the first to fall, the meat for the beasts' grinders.
"SILENCE!" Weston hollered, his voice echoing like a thunderclap. "You will now be tested for your potential. The wheat shall be separated from the chaff."
He nodded toward Agni. The advisor stepped forward, his face a mask of cold indifference.
He didn't speak. He simply pulled his hands behind his back and scanned the crowd with an intense, predatory gaze.
"Let's see what we have here then."
Then, almost immediately, a huge, crushing pressure descended upon the crowd. It wasn't authority; it was the raw, concentrated killing intent of a master.
The air grew cold. Austin felt as if an invisible giant had placed a hand on his head and was pushing him into the floor.
Around him, dozens of youths gasped and fell to their knees, unable to withstand the sheer weight of Agni's intent.
Agni's eyes moved like a hawk's, looking for those who remained standing—those whose own internal power was pushing back against his own.
In the middle of the struggling crowd, the flickering crimson spark in Austin's chest began to pulse, reacting to the threat.