Freya got to the gates in a very short time and Vlad followed soon a few minutes, after.

"That's a danger signal, which team is missing?" Asked Freya the one responsible for the scouts patrol schedule.

"It's team 7, they should have reported a few hours ago but they didn't, since we had no news we decided to wait." Answered the one in charge.

"We need to rescue them, quickly figure out the zone they were assigned to patrol and we'll form a search team." Spoke Freya.

"Commander, there is a certain risk involved when sending a rescue team in the middle of the night..." Warned Vlad in a hushed voice.

"Your right, I'll tag along the team. No danger should befall them, you set it up, I'll be watching them from the shadows." Whispered Freya, leaving Vlad shocked, he wanted to protest but when she saw Freya's face he knew he had no choice but to comply.

The rescue mission went surprisingly smooth, no ambushes or trouble along the way when they found Sven and saw the state he was in all of them felt sorry for him.

After the team left, Freya lingered around investigating the place. Her heightened smell allowed her to feel the familiar scent of an evolved creature but something about this one seemed strange. _Seems like whoever it was, tried to gather information, through the typical torture method. But why would it let him live?_

After concluding that nothing was around, she went back to the keep met with Vlad to listen to the report. "What an interesting turn of events, get Elisia to treat him after it's done I'll talk to him also."

"As you wish, Commander. Do you think the scout is a traitor?" Asked Vlad.

"Traitor or not, why is he alive?" Asked Freya back while Vlad was confused.

"What do you mean? Leaving him alive could be an attempt to extract more information... Wait, something doesn't add up."

"Exactly! They should realize that Sven wouldn't be able to act as a spy for them. First, he'd be locked up and interrogated; second, how would he transmit the information?" Freya exclaimed, then continued, "This almost feels like an act of mercy, but can they truly be capable of mercy?" She gazed toward the east, lost in thought, '_Could there be a possibility of reasoning with them? And if so, it brings a host of other problems. Half of us perished. Would any warden be willing to make peace with them?_'

"Well, let's hope I can glean more answers after speaking with Sven," Freya said, her mind set. With that, she left the office, retreated to her room, and managed to catch a few hours of sleep before morning dawned.

In the morning, Freya made her way to her office. She ordered some food to be brought in and settled in for the long and boring battle with paperwork. Piles of documents, previously processed by Bryndor, were waiting for her signature.

One trick she employed was using her mana to move the papers without touching them. By noon, she managed to finish the arduous task. Just as she was catching her breath, a visitor arrived—Alderic the Wise.

"Commander Freya Caerwyn, it's an honor to finally get acquainted. I come here as a scholar; please do not pay attention to my function," spoke an old man with a head full of white hair and a neatly trimmed beard. Despite being 78 years old, he moved around without a cane, albeit at a slower pace. His mind, however, worked at an incredible speed. He was dressed in a white robe adorned with the insignia of the Council of Wisdom. The emblem featured a book surrounded by lines of a pentagram, enclosed by a protective circle. This symbolism spoke volumes of the Council's essence. The book represented the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, the pentagram signified a deep connection to protection and spiritual insight, and the encircling border highlighted the council's mission of unity and inclusiveness. The robe and its emblem exuded an aura of enlightenment.

"Sir Alderic the Wise, head of the Council of Wisdom, it's an honor for us wardens to be visited by one such as you. Stories of your sagacity and wisdom are well known throughout the world. Please call me Freya," she bowed to him and gestured for him to take a seat.

"As you wish, Freya. Would you be open to explaining to this old man what mana is and how you managed to awaken it?" inquired Alderic, his grey eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Of course, more than that, I hope to gain your insight and guidance. I plan to organize my knowledge in a book from which anyone can learn. The recent attack has proven that human strength is useless. We are facing annihilation," Freya replied as she used her mana to float a piece of paper and practiced her control by writing on it.

"You plan on sharing this knowledge with everyone? Are you aware of the problems that may arise if everyone had superhuman strength?" Alderic questioned.

"Chaos? Crimes? Authority of strength and not of law? I'm aware, which is why I hope I can work together with the Council of Wisdom to spread the knowledge of mana without any of this happening."

"I see. Well, you certainly seem to have given this some thought," Alderic mused, his mind turning to the potential problems they might encounter.

"More than that, Sir Alderic, have you thought about whether you want to use mana and start cultivating? It would certainly improve your deteriorating body," Freya inquired, her gaze fixed on him.

"Well that is something that piques my curiosity, I have to say young lass, I'd like that but is it actually possible?"

"Should be, let's pick Elisia and Alaric as well. I'm going to teach you how and what awakening is.

"I look forward to it, teacher." Smirked Alderic.

"Please sir, it's embarrassing for me to be addressed as teacher by you." And they both left the office.

First they picked Alaric from his room transformed into a laboratory. Glasses, flasks, books, all kinds of vials filled with different liquids surrounded Alaric Venomhart who was in the middle of an experiment.

After the experiment was over they exchanged pleasantries and briefed him on his plan, when Alaric heard this he was excited, "Finally I get the chance to awaken, I've spent alot of time meditating with no success."

"We'll see, I can awaken all of you but I hope for one of you to awaken naturally." Said Freya on their way to get Elisia.

But when they arrived to her room a surprise awaited for them. Elisia actually manage to awaken on her own.

"Well that's a surprise how did you do it?" Asked Freya while going around in circles around Elisia studying her up close.

"I don t really know myself, it happened after I treated that scout Sven, I kept thinking to myself that I wish I could have healed him instead of amputating his arm then a soft green glow enveloped me, I can feel mana inside me but I can't move it or channel." Explained Elisia while frantically moving her hands.

"What an interesting thing, this is." Added Alaric.

"I might be able to help with that but first let's go somewhere else." Said Freya as she led them into the clearing by the lake in the forest.

This time Freya announced Bryndor that she'll be gone for most of the day and where to find her.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Okay now that we're all here let's start this, first of all what questions do you have?" Asked Freya as she sat down on the grass with Silverwind by her side.

"Are we supposed to just sit here on the ground?" Asked Alaric with a sour expression.

"Well yes, kinda. Close contact with nature facilitates how you feel and perceive mana. I still don't know how exactly one begins to feel mana alone with no help." Answered Freya while inwardly adding, 'Plus that I didn't brought any chairs.'

"If you say so..." Grumbled Alaric while sitting on the ground and all his colleagues followed soon. "Who would have ever believed three members of the Council of Wisdom to sit on the ground."

"Consider this a new experience, my friend." Alderic teased him, "But Freya what do you mean you don't know how to awaken, haven't you awakened by yourself?"

"Not really, I had a help from this little guy here." Said Freya as she pointed to Silverwind while making it float in midair and bow to the three. "This is the weapon Eldric himself used in his battles and my guess is that it's the same thing that gave him his superhuman powers, I think it's a relic of that ancient civilization that we know nothing about. It was this thing that helped me feel mana and gave me a revelation about how to use it, although it's been silent ever since."

"Amazing! That enigmatic civilization! After 900 years of studying it we know almost nothing about it." Added Alderic, "All we have are the legends. We still don't know why such an advanced culture left no written records behind, but maybe they did left records of them behind but in another form. Maybe they used mana powered devices to record their culture."

"Ahem. Let's get back on track! Far as I know, mana is part of nature just like air or water. Although I still don't know the reason why no one could feel it until I did, maybe it was locked because when I awakened this phrase resounded in my head: '_What was once sealed is now undone!'_" said Freya and she continued her explanation of how she began to use mana including the way she channels it and controls it."

"From what you say, Freya it certainly sounds like mana wasn't part of this world until recently." Said Elisia after Freya finished her story about everything that happened so far.

"Indeed, it's impossible for so many centuries since that civilization disappeared, for not even a single person to awaken mana..." Added Alaric the alchemist.

"Until we learn more about the ancient past we should as well reference the legends saying that the gods sealed mana away somehow punishing the humans. I dare say, dear Freya, your weapon, Silverwind might hold the answers that we seek..." Theorized Alderic.

"What do you mean?" Asked Freya as she took Silverwind in her hand and looked at it.

"My theory is that the ancients history is recorded in that weapon you have. That weapon should be the relic that gave Eldric his powers and which now gave you your powers." Answered Alderic.

"Hmmm.... Well let's get back to what we came here to do. Do you want to try and awaken on your own or should I help you?"

"I want to study this mana as soon as possible so please awaken me!" Answered Alderic while his colleague Alaric denied, "Thank you, but I will pass. I want to try and self awaken, who knows what I might find out."

After that was done she instructed them how to control and channel mana, Alderic was a fast learner while Alaric just listened and learned for when he'll awaken.

"This is amazing, I can move easily now and the world is much clearer than before, it's like my body has been rejuvenated!" Said Alderic as he was stretching around.

"Your welcome, as I said I plan to share this knowledge with everyone, the humans must grow stronger as a whole if we are to survive against the unknown." Said Freya while moving Silverwind in mid air using her mana to control it.

Elisia on the other hand had trouble channeling her mana she could feel it but it was like her mana had a will of her own, her body got the same strengthening like her colleagues but couldn't use it.

"What is wrong with me? Shouldn't I be able to control it as well?" Lamented Elisia but Freya had an idea.

"Just a second, Elisia. You said that you awakened when you thought about healing, Sven?"

"Yes that's right..."

"Then I have just the thing we could try." Said Freya as she took her dagger and stabbed herself on her palm.

"Good heavens! What are you doing?!" Exclaimed Elisia and before she could react she could feel the stagnant mana in her rumbling, as she took a step forward Freya was half a meter in front of her when green tendrils of mana moved from her hand to Freya's palm enveloping and healing the wound in a few seconds.

After the process was done Freya smiled and said as she waved her hand around clenching and unclenching, "Well there is your answer! You are a healer to the bone Elisia Niamh, this was no shallow cut I went in pretty deep but you healed it right away..."

"How dare you do that?! You stabbed yourself to the bone for god's sake! Are you insane? You should have at least made a shallow cut!" Elisia's anger was short lived as she felt tired and heavy all of a sudden and Freya caught her before she would fall down.

"Wow your power is strong but it seems it takes a toll on your mana, you are dried out. Just rest for now your body should absorb the mana in the air by itself." Said Freya as she gently sit her down on the ground.

"Freya, I think I figured out something. Indulge me a bit. Is Elisia the first person that self awakened?" Asked Alderic while rubbing his jaw.

"Yes, why you ask?"

"Ok, all the other people are awakened by you? And they all don't have a similar power to Elisia's or different in other way?"

"Yes and no they don't."

"What if that is the difference between self awakening and being awakened by someone else. Self awakened people have special powers according to their character or will. Elisia's wish to heal must have changed the nature of mana within her. What do you think?"

"I think I might have made a huge mistake by awakening people so far! I should have let them awaken by themselves, who knows what kind of powers would have they unlocked?" Freya said in a loud voice.

"Maybe, we don't know for sure we'll have to test this on our friend Alaric, here." Alderic smirked. "I have an idea next time you experiment with your poisons try to think about how using mana would improve them, maybe that will trigger a change similar to Elisia's."

"That is a good idea, sir Alderic! Sir Alaric please experiment as soon as possible." Said Freya while looking at him like a butcher at a fat pig.

"You're saying the right things but why do I have the feeling you're treating me as an experiment?" Said Alaric while raising an eyebrow.

"No such thing, friend." Laughed Alderic.

"Well then this should wrap things up. I want to practice for a bit, you are welcome to stay or go back, just stay away from me." Said Freya as she stretched with Silverwind in hand.

As she headed towards a nearby tree, a surge of frustration and determination coursed through Freya. Without hesitation, she launched a powerful kick at the tree trunk, the impact resonating with a loud thud that echoed through the quiet forest. Leaves were sent scattering, falling like a cascade of nature's confetti. A determined glint gleamed in her eyes as she shifted her focus to her spear work.

The movements of her spear were a mesmerizing dance of precision and fluidity. Each strike was executed with such finesse that every leaf that drifted down from the branches had a minuscule hole punched through its center. The leaves, now resembling delicate remnants of a secret battle between Freya and the elements, drifted gently to the ground.

After she was done, the three spectators approached, and when they saw that all the leaves had a hole in them, they were amazed.

"You must have really hated those leaves," joked Alaric, while Alderic added, "Is that something your subordinates like Kormac or Vlad can do as well?"

"I don't think so. As I am now, the two of them combined can't even make me sweat. It's frustrating to not have an equal training partner. Sometimes I just want to go alone beyond the walls in order to let loose a little," lamented Freya. "The great Black Warden Commander, a glorious title they say, but it's just a cage. Thirty years old, and I can't even visit Tyr Annwyn... Haven't even seen a village of the huge kingdom I'm supposed to protect. In the past, I used to relax through training and fighting, but now I have to be careful every time I spar, or I could heavily injure someone." She finished her discourse by punching down the ground to crack in a 5-meter radius.

Alderic stepped forward, his gaze steady and comforting. He placed a hand on Freya's shoulder and spoke in a voice that carried the weight of his years of wisdom. "Commander, within the cage of titles and responsibilities, you hold a power that extends far beyond. Like a tempest confined within a vessel, your strength and potential are boundless."

Freya looked at him, her expression a mix of curiosity and yearning. "What do you mean, Alderic?"

He smiled, his eyes sparkling with an enigmatic light. "Remember, the cage is but an illusion, a construct of the mind. Seek the hidden paths that only the heart can find. Amidst the chaos and restraint, your spirit remains untamed. In the stillness of your being, discover the key to set your soul aflame."

Alderic's words hung in the air, cryptic yet strangely soothing. Freya's eyes searched his gaze, and slowly, a small smile formed on her lips. "Thank you, Alderic."

"Remember, Commander, you are a beacon of strength to all of us. The cage may surround you, but your spirit soars free," Alderic said with a knowing nod.

"Spirit! That is what I have missed so far!"

"What do you mean?"

"I've been so focused on growing stronger and focussed only on my physical strength but as we start to see mana is more than just power, it's a part of us and our will!" Exclaimed Freya as she sat cross legged and closed her eyes in meditation.

She thought about herself, her duty, her comrades, her fate, and the reason she wanted more power. Was it so that she could defend Oakheart? Was it so she could avenge the fallen soldiers? Maybe, but more than that, all she ever wanted was freedom—freedom to go where she wants, to explore the world beyond the walls, to seek her own path and destiny. As she delved deeper into her meditation, she felt a newfound connection with her inner self, her spirit soaring beyond the confines of titles and expectations.