Inside Freya's office, an air of somber gravity hung over the gathered individuals. The night was heavy with silence, allowing their thoughts to echo loudly. After Freya had relayed Dorian's information to Bryndor and Kormac, the room fell into a contemplative hush as each person absorbed the implications of this newfound knowledge.

"And this is what we have, the mindless creatures that we knew have now evolved and can think and talk, that banquet party sounds like fun now, doesn't it? What's our next step?" Asked Freya with a serious tone

"Commander, really? Asked Bryndor, "Never mind that, Dorian said he heard the creatures say that they're not ready to destroy the wall yet. That implies they have a way to do it, and if they do how?"

Freya exhaled slowly, her expression pensive, "There are a lot of ways to destroy a wall, Bryndor. What I'm about to say now is knowledge known only to the Warden Commander. Eldric didn't build a magical impenetrable wall, its only power is to prevent the creatures from crossing over or under it and stop the corruption from spreading to the lands. Other than that catapults, hammers even chisels are fair work. Why do you think we Black Wardens exist? It's not just so we sweep the walls of dust but to fight against anything capable of breaching the walls."

"But, doesn't that mean we're royally screwed." Kormac started to speak, "From what we know so far a single one of them is capable of effortlessly whipping out an entire scouting team made of our elites. If there's an army of them how can we even fight?"

"Not so fast, Kormac." Interjected Master Scout Vlad, "If they could have done that, then we wouldn't have this conversation. My guess is that there are few in numbers who have evolved, what's more troubling is that they seem to have some sort of control over the other corrupted creatures. As for fighting them, we have to somehow find out their powers, how resistant they are to damage and their weaknesses."

"You make a good point, Vlad." Added Freya, "Maybe there are just a few of those evolved creatures, the old records left behind by Eldric never mentions any of this. Still we can't act hopping for the best, Bryndor you'll go to the Capital at once and deliver the news. Have a meeting with the Council of Wisdom and King Eiric, tell them everything we have found out so far. Take my seal, that should make them believe you, go now!"

"As you command!" Bryndor turned around and left.

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After he left Freya turned towards Vlad, "Vlad make sure to have your scouts patrol in a perimeter 5 kilometers from the wall and tell them what to look out for."

"Understood, Commander!" Replied Vlad dutifully.

"As for you Kormac the expedition tomorrow is cancelled. Tomorrow morning I'll gather all the soldiers and personally deliver the news of what we just found out, it's bound to stir some waves I know but I won't keep them in the dark." Said Freya "Look on the bright side, at this rate we won't need to dance or participate in a ball anymore." Joked Freya.

"And to think I already polished my dancing shoes, what a pity..." Sorrowfully added Kormac making Vlad looking at him in shock while Freya raised an eyebrow in surprise as if asking if he really just made a joke.

"Just because I don't joke doesn't mean I can't make a joke, don't look at me like that." Grumbled Kormac.

"Anyway that will be all for now, don't know about you all but I am in no mood for sleeping, I'll be in the training chamber if you need me. Dismissed." Said Freya as she took her spear, Silverwind and headed for the training chamber while Vlad and Kormac left at the same time going to prepare for the next day.

Within the training room, Freya sat cross-legged deep in meditation with Silverwind resting on her knees. Her mind was thinking about those two evolved creatures with all the details she had of them from Dorian's description. Those creatures could move faster than the eye could see and surely possess a strength at least on par with their mindless counterparts if not greater. She began to visualize different fighting styles and ways to respond against those creatures. Amidst all her strategies as if sensing her struggles Silverwind started vibrating slowly and releasing a faint silver light, Freya noticed this, "What's this? You want me to yield you?" and she took it in her hands when she made contact with it she could sense something foreign starting to course through her body with the spear as its source. Wherever that energy passed through her body seemed to grow stronger, flowing like blood and gathering in the middle of her chest as if it was a second heart. And with this energy came faint memories of an ancient time.

After an immeasurable passage of time, the world witnessed the resurgence of mana, a power that had long been absent. The northern dormant volcano of the Avalorians roared back to life, spewing forth molten lava into the sky. For seven days, this fiery display painted the heavens and the land before finally abating.

*What was once sealed is now undone!*

Echoed in Freya's mind and she knew what that thing was, it was mana. And with this the whole world will change. "Does this mean those ancient legends are actually true?" Murmured Freya... And bits and pieces of how to use and train this power started appearing in her mind. Her body started being enveloped into a faint silver light and moving on its own executing an unknown spear fighting style. When she regained her composure it was already morning and the ground and walls around were full of holes and cuts.

While Kormac was standing there flabbergasted, Freya asked unsure "Did I do that?"

Meanwhile, deep within the eastern forest, the one-eyed creature, known as Oracle Ygnis, sat in meditation. Abruptly, it rose to its feet, a sense of urgency gripping its features. "No! It can't be!" Ygnis exclaimed, its voice laced with dread. It turned to the six-armed creature by its side, issuing a commanding order, "Gather all those who have evolved. We are facing unforeseen danger. The human has unlocked the mana seal."

The six-armed creature, initially sluggish, sprang into action upon hearing the news.