Meeting the young elite of the snowwind empire is something that occurs so rarely that there is a higher chance of me meeting one of the generals of the black mountain (and no I have yet to meet one of the generals. They are truly busy and even my master gets to meet them so rarely.) Our records contain detailed records on the soldiers of the snowwinds, passable records on the many clans and their leaders, yet we do not have any record on the young powers of these clans.

We do not have any idea about the next generation of the snowwind. Now it is true that all of our "allies" have always been guarded about their knowledge around us. Nobody would like to leave a talented youngster in the presence of a scholar. Adults that have spent their life guarding against the curiosity of the black mountain struggle to do so, what do you think a youngster that have barely begun to master their own magics would be able to do.

Still, the protectiveness of the snowwinders is still a level beyond what I would expect of any other force in the continent. When you think about that, our reinforcements are quite unique in that regard. Three first circle beings have come to reinforce this region and one of them is of the construction corps. That is another enigma for us.

I am sure that the scholars must already be poring over every detail that I am sending. We do have a hegemony to maintain after all.

Regardless it is time that we return to the discussion at hand. Three first circle level beings, each with the power to challenge me anywhere except this fort and the three together might just be enough to actually do me in even here in the fort. If they catch me by surprise. Even the one of the construction corps that I have met has a very dangerous presence. Their presence feels less like reinforcements and more like an hostile takeover.

The one that had come into the formation to talk to me was called as ankon starfall, who seemed to be an up and coming genius of the construction corps. While shamon has little knowledge of actual use, ankon seems to be a genius at fixing and modifying existing buildings.

It has barely been two days since we met the man and he has already managed to bring the fort back to a spick and span shape. Unless I were to look closely at the place I would not even know that it has been repaired at all. I literally had to do the repairs to the formation the instant that I could move simply for the speed with which ankon has done his work. That was no easy work. Trying to move mana when you can barely move yourself is a very hard task I have found out.

The other two men seem to be no less formidable (in strength and in background.) though I have only their mana to base that out of. Theo and Travis starfall are supposed to be direct descendants of the starfalls and I know very little about the starfalls. the starfalls are supposed to be a merchantile family with above the average military power among the snowwinders.

They are still known more for their commercial capabilities then their military might, though that does not mean that I should be underestimating them. Mistakes like that are what will lead us to death.

Now that I have transmitted this vital information (for the head office at least) it is time for me to return to the discussion of my formation and it's success. The activation of the nurturing formation has been a success that even I did not think would happen, especially the ring of dew.

The ring of dew could have just as easily been useless in the battlefield and I dare not imagine what would have happen with the snowlord then. I have been gambling on quite the bit with this class eight formation, I have to be frank.

Well, let's leave the beating myself up for my future works and focus on the things that matter for now. The very first thing that can be noticed about the entire thing is the dome of mana that is now surrounding the formation. Well it is closer to an amorphous blob rather than a dome to be honest and it is not visible. The only thing that marks the presence of said dome is the sharp decrease in ice mana that can be felt while entering it.

Actually, that reminds me that I have to tell somebody to keep cultivating in the region nearby. To put it in simple terms, the dome is created by the mana leaking from the formations. With the druids such a dome is useful for the simple fact that the druids would use it to increase the concentration of mana in their surroundings. Right now this mana is literally disappearing into the wind. Maybe not as much as opening the formation base would have leaked, but it will be significant in the long run. The only way to make use of this mana would be to absorb it and use it for cultivation. It is actually a virtuous cycle as the emitted vital mana then would strengthen the blob. Granted, just like with everything related to the druids, it is a slow and steady process.

I can actually think of a few formation that will be able to absorb this discharge and enhance the concentration of mana in the region but I have done enough for the snowwinders, especially in terms of formations.

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Other than that though, nearly every other formation especially the iron skin formation and the water spear formations are working at their full efficiency. These two formations actually benefit from the presence of the dome as well.

I can literally feel the quiver being filled up with spears and it is such an addictive feeling to feel the sheer quantity of spears that are present in the quiver. This is especially the case with the way that I have had to adjust with working with a limited amount of bolts for such a long time.

That also means that my time in this fort will be coming to an end soon. Simply put, no man would like his neighbour to have the keys to his safe and in my case it is even a formation that will allow me to comfortably fight against a second circle being. Sadly, my replacement jas already arrived at the spot too with the reinforcements. I expected a bit more time.

At the moment, I would now prefer to be sent to the ruin already. I am quite surprised to see how much I am looking forward to talk to Trevor.

Anyway, to return to the matter of talking to reinforcements. It is about time that I have been called up to meet with them. Only ankon has deigned himself ready to come down here and talk to me. That too mainly because he did not want to mess with my formation. The other two might as well be ghosts. This will be the first time that I will be dealing with a snowwinder's ego.

Today I am finally going to meet them, regarding which only I am sitting down here waiting for them. They will simply not meet me by the formation core. It could be because they do not want to meet in the location where I would be the most powerful. (A common misinformation about formations is that proximity to them makes them more powerful. While that is true, it is valid across distances as large as the distance between nations. Anywhere in the fort and the formation will serve me with the same capabilities.)

Even now, I have to go up to meet them. It is for that reason that I am waiting for shamon to actually come up and take me up there. These nobles are the sticklers for conduct after all.

(After a few minutes.)

"Captain, I hope you are ready to meet the starfalls.", shamon speaks his voice echoing from outside. The man enters with a hurry that I did not even see with the ice beasts suicidal charge. the starfalls scare this man.

"Well, you will do well to calm down my friend. We are not going to meet the devils.", I say to the man.

"The devils would be easier to deal with my friend. If you truly displease them, then they will only kill you. The starfalls are new nobles, with an itch to prove themselves. If you offend them they will likely kill you and every person in this fort to make their point.", he speaks, his voice in quite a bit of panic.

"Well, you need not worry about that, shamon. I do not think they have any reason to kill me. I am certain that I must have exceeded their expectations quite the bit with this mission.", I say, as I allow a bit of pride into my voice. This has been an achievement for me at least.

And it is with this kind of nervousness that I go to meet my reinforcements. The men are in the southern gate, all three as they seem to be deep in discussion until they notice my arrival.

Ankon was studying the gate and most likely it's hinges. Well that is their problem to figure out. The other two starfall brothers are standing to the side, absurdly tall for a human. They were tall enough to look down on me while talking. I would have thought them to have giant blood, if they did not have the necessary mass for that to be true.

"Captain sevenstars, it is rare for us to meet people of your capability this far north. It is an honour to meet you.", the one I think called Theo speaks. He is the elder of the two, recognisable with a scar on his cheek. He is supposed to have got it wrestling with an ice beast as a child, which seems unlikely based on personal experience. Even this story was a rumour of a rumour we overheard from random soldiers talking to each other by a previous dilpomat to the frozen peaks.

"Let's just get to the point my friend, I am exhausted and flattery is beyond my capability at the moment.", I speak. I can see the way in which the two soldiers change the moment I speak. If they were relaxed a moment ago, now they are ready to trade blows.

"That is certainly direct. We shall return the favour then, the commander has been quite explicit that you shall have to surrender control to the formation and return to the frozen peak." The second brother speaks, who looked a step shorter than Theo.

"I do not mind returning. If anything that is what I want. This place has been quite miserable for me. Sadly, I have duties too and I cannot leave the place unless you can confirm that me and my people will be protected.", I speak looking at Theo with my most serious expression.

Travis looks like he is about to speak, but his brother interrupts him before that can occur.

"That is fair my friend. We are honour bound by the hexmountain treaty to protect you and your ruins. Failure to do so would be a stain on the honour of the commander and we cannot afford such a thing ourselves.", Theo speaks, "we shall March to protect you and your soldiers should they even think of attacking you."

The man speaks as if he was performing in a play, taking a tone too grandiose for reality. It is quite weird if I am to be honest.

"While that is nice to here, it is not practical. what army shall march to my aid. The soldiers here have barely held on against the enemy.", I ask.

"Well, captain. The enemy was not supposed to pile up against you like that. It shows the strength of you and your formations that this place has held, with even the snowlords unable to cause significant damage to the place. Maybe that is why the commander has commanded quite a few troops to swing by this direction. In a few days this place will be quite stocked with troops.", ankon speaks to the air, as his focus had not left the gate.

"What about me then, am I to remain here or is your commander planning to send me elsewhere.", I ask.

"You are to return to the frozen peaks, to talk to the commander after which you are free to do what you want in the fort.", theo replies. "With that I think we have covered everything of note. you can retire if you wish, but we need to figure just what has to be done with this gate."

Taking the request to leave I dissolve into the background.