Gravitas lifted her veil slightly, wiping away a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead. It was the first time since arriving in this frosty place that she had actually broken a sweat, but after hours of moving material, it was no surprise.
She glanced over and saw Vulcanos in a similar state. The firey giant couldn't actually sweat, but the exhaustion on his face was unmistakable as he maintained his gentle heating spell. Gravitas sighed and looked up at the sky. The first traces of morning were already visible, a faint red mixing with the black. They had worked through the entire night.
She turned her gaze back to the colossal wall they stood upon, a slight but proud smile forming behind her veil. Together with Vulcanos, they had raised its height by nearly a person's length. Not only that, they had significantly widened the walkway, making it sturdy enough to support archers and defenders along its entire length. It was likely the most significant boost to the fort's defenses in years.
They had also coated the outer wall with a layer of their unique stone. The smooth surface of the compressed mixture left no handholds for enemies to climb. If time allowed, the tribesmen would add an extra layer of ice on top for even more protection.
Gravitas maintained her control over her power as she admired their work. They were nearing completion of the final section of the wall, and soon, they could finally rest. Just then, Commander Frost appeared on the rampart, excitement gleaming in his eyes. The two guards flanking him were less composed, openly gawking at the modifications. When their eyes met Gravitas's, she noticed the genuine respect they now held.
"By the ancients! You actually did it. I didn't think it was possible," Frost said, stopping just outside the area they were finishing.
Gravitas glanced at him, a playful light dancing in her eyes. "You sounded quite convinced when the Spirit suggested it, Commander Frost," she countered.
All the modifications had been devised by Akasha. Whatever else she was, the Spirit was a brilliant strategist and planner. Her instructions were precise, and even her timetable had been spot on. When she had first shared her ideas, Frost was so excited that he might have wagged his tail if he had one.
Frost coughed lightly, clearly embarrassed by the memory. "That... woman was convincing at the time. But later, I started having doubts. It all seemed too good to be true. And yet, you have really done it."
Gravitas nodded, surveying their work with no small amount of pride. However, her expression darkened a little when she recalled what they were up against. "Will it be enough?" she asked softly. The guards behind Frost stiffened at her question.
Frost sighed deeply, his gaze drifting to the base of the mountain. "If Progenitor Shassra joins the fight, we likely won't survive the day... unless my father recovers in time," he added, glancing at the guards behind him.
Gravitas nodded, watching the exchange with interest. It seemed Frost had taken Akasha's advice seriously and started spreading the rumor that Winter was recovering. A smart move, even if the lie clearly made him uncomfortable. Then again, it wouldn't be a lie anymore if their Master healed him in time…
Eventually, the stone beneath their feet hardened, and Vulcanos extinguished his flames. Gravitas stopped applying pressure and finally allowed her mind to relax. Tentatively, Frost stepped onto the newly formed floor, marveling at its solidity.
"This is truly remarkable," he murmured, testing its strength by gradually adding more weight. Soon, he was walking across the surface, even jumping up and down. Not a single dent appeared. The cold morning air had helped the mixture harden quickly once cured.
Vulcanos grinned, proud. "Impressive, right? Our Master came up with the recipe in a single night."
Frost grew contemplative. "Would he be willing to share that recipe?"
Vulcanos shrugged. "If we survive the coming days, that is something your father and the Master will have to discuss."
Frost nodded after a moment of thought, likely realizing that he would no longer be in charge of the tribe when this was all over—one way or the other.
"You two made an outstanding contribution tonight and I will make sure that you'll see a reward for it," he said.
Before Gravitas could respond, Vulcanos waved him off. "No need for that. We don't lack anything, and if we did, our Master would provide."
Frost looked at him for a long moment. "Quite enviable," he said eventually.
Vulcanos grinned. "Maybe you would be allowed to join us if you asked nicely?"
"That is not my path," Frost said, shaking his head. "Anyways, you two should get some rest now. You'll need all your strength for what is to come."
Gravitas nodded and descended the rampart, with Vulcanos falling in step behind her before she even reached the bottom of the stairs. They soon arrived at the town hall, where they had been assigned a room after sealing the mine.
As they entered, they found Ash sleeping in a seated position, his back against the wall. When the door made the slightest sound, his eyes snapped open, watching them intently. Even in sleep, the Wolfkin hadn't let his guard down.
"How did it go?" he asked immediately.
"Everything went well," Vulcanos explained, letting out a massive yawn right after. "It was just like the scary lady said."
Ash nodded, taking in their tired faces. "You two should rest now. Don't worry, I'm gonna stand guard for the next few hours."
Gravitas gave him a grateful nod as she headed to one of the three empty beds. Without bothering to undress, she slipped under the covers as she was. With Ash keeping watch, nothing stood in the way of her well-deserved rest. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Vulcanos doing the same, but her lids were already closed before he even pulled the covers over himself.
***
"It's time," a voice said, rousing Gravitas from her sleep. Her eyes opened slowly; there had been no urgency in the call, so she didn't rush.
"Did something happen?" she mumbled sleepily.
"The enemy is here," Ash replied in the same calm tone.
Gravitas' eyes snapped open. "They're here?" she asked, more alert now.
Ash stood at the foot of her bed, meeting her gaze with calm eyes. "They've only just come into sight. It'll be a while before the battle actually begins."
Gravitas calmed down a bit but still decided to get out of bed. They hadn't been assigned a position in the defense, but she still wanted to witness the fight's opening. Much would become clear when she saw the enemy in action. Ever since they had decided to participate, Gravitas had thought of many ways for them to escape should the battle turn out to be unwinnable. Now that her Master was gone, it was up to her to uphold his promise. She would make sure they all survived what was to come.
Her gaze shifted to Vulcanos, who was also getting out of bed. Most of her concern was for him. If he lost control in the heat of battle, there was no telling what he might do. Since their Master had taught them the Blood Boil technique, the firey giant had made the most progress, but his fighting style had grown more reckless as a result. Ideally, they would keep him away from the fighting as much as possible…
"Let's gooo!" Vulcanos exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. Gravitas would bet no one was more eager for the fight than him. He moved toward the door, nearly skipping, with no sense of danger whatsoever. Gravitas exchanged a knowing look with Ash before they followed. It was clear the Wolfkin shared her concern.
Instead of climbing the ramparts, they headed for one of the watchtowers, which stood even higher than the wall. From there, they could observe the entire front while remaining close enough to intervene or flee if needed. When they reached the top, a single scout greeted them. Gravitas hadn't seen the woman before, but she appeared young—only a few years older than Snow, at most.
She had white hair, like most of the tribe, with furry ears and a bushy tail. What stood out most, however, were her trembling eyes as she watched the approaching horde. It was clear why she was stationed here—she was too young and unprepared to fight. Gravitas gently placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. Seeing the enemy's numbers for the first time, the fear in her eyes was understandable.
The approaching horde spanned from east to west, completely encircling the fort. The sight of the snake people moving in such a tight formation was eerie, like a tide defying gravity. Their sinuous, synchronized movements were almost hypnotic. Gravitas focused her gaze and noticed that each of them carried a quiver on their backs, containing at least half a dozen spears.
Gravitas frowned at the sight.
From personal experience, she knew the spears were coated with deadly poison; even a minor wound from one could be fatal. Just by looking, she could tell they had enough to skewer each tribe member multiple times. Clearly, the Frostcale tribe was much larger than theirs. Did this mean that their members were individually weaker? Just as that thought went through her mind, a huge commotion erupted from the warriors standing on the wall.
Gravitas followed their gazes and quickly understood what had happened. Amid the enemy formation stood eleven figures who walked on legs. They were clearly purebloods. Ten of them seemed to be the Frostscale Progenitor's children, but it was the eleventh figure that had caused such a reaction.
It was Polaris.
The daughter of Winter marched an army toward her former home with her head held high. Her face showed no trace of remorse, as if she was performing the most natural task in the world. Even as hundreds of voices hurled insults, cursed her name, and berated her, she remained completely unfazed.
Soon, the enemy army reached the perimeter of the wall. One of the Purebloods beside Polaris raised a single arm, and instantly, the army came to a halt. If nothing else, their discipline was commendable. The same Pureblood then stepped forward, leaving his ranks, and faced the wall alone. Now that Gravitas saw him up close, she recognized the man. He was the same person who had chased them on their first day and thrown that cursed Voidiron spear that nearly killed her. He was also the one who had injured her Master.
The man inspected the wall leisurely, his gaze and posture suggesting he had no worries at all. From this distance, it was hard to tell if his calm was a facade or genuine confidence. Gravitas suspected it was the former. In such a battle, no one could guarantee survival, and being too relaxed was more the mark of a fool than a great warrior.
After he was done with his performance, the man tilted his head back and called out: "Whoever is in charge—I am willing to accept your surrender now." The voice carried, and every man, woman, and child in the fort heard his declaration.