A sharp knock echoed through the room, snapping Lorian out of his half-asleep daze. Groaning, he rubbed his eyes and forced his tired body off the bed. His muscles still ached from the day's grueling training, but he managed to drag himself to the door.
When he opened it, a cadet stood at attention, posture rigid and formal. The uniform was pristine, and the expression on his face suggested this wasn't just a casual visit.
"Lorian Aeloria?" the cadet asked, his tone respectful but direct.
"Yeah, that's me," Lorian replied, stifling a yawn. "What's this about?"
"You've been assigned to assist with an upcoming mission," the cadet explained, handing over a sealed letter. "Your squad will be providing logistical support for a team of military researchers heading to an excavation site. The mission is primarily low-risk—moving supplies, setting up camp, standing watch. Standard cadet duties."
Lorian took the letter, though his mind was already racing ahead. "What about my classes?" he asked, thinking about his schedule for the upcoming week.
"When you're called for fieldwork, you're excused from classes," the cadet explained. "You’ll be given make-up assignments or tasks to practice while out on duty. Just focus on the mission."
Lorian relaxed a little, knowing he wouldn’t be missing anything crucial. He could handle whatever make-up work they gave him later. His attention shifted back to the cadet. "An excavation? What kind of site?"
"Ruins," the cadet said, though his voice dropped slightly, betraying the otherwise calm delivery. "Ancient ruins. They've already been cleared earlier this week by a squad under Captain Aric Thorne's command. The area's considered secure now."
Lorian’s eyes lit up at the mention of Captain Aric. "Captain Aric was involved?"
The cadet nodded, his tone more serious. "Yes, Captain Thorne led the operation. They encountered Wendigos during the mission—nasty creatures—but the team cleared them out. One of their members was injured and is currently being treated by the academy's head healer."
Lorian's heart quickened. Aric, his mentor, had been there. The idea of seeing him at the ruins excited Lorian. It had been weeks since their last interaction, and although they weren't family by blood, Aric had always been someone Lorian looked up to—his guiding figure. "So, Wendigos? And they were guarding something in the ruins?"
The cadet hesitated for a moment, as though weighing how much he should reveal. "I don't know all the details," he admitted. "But from what I've heard, the Wendigos were protecting something deeper inside the ruins. The researchers are still investigating."
Lorian's excitement grew. Not only would he get a chance to see Aric again, but the ruins clearly held something significant. Maybe this was more than just a simple field assignment.
"So my squad is just there for support? Nothing else?"
"That's correct," the cadet confirmed. "Your role is primarily to assist with supplies, help set up camp, and keep watch. It's considered safe. No additional threats are expected since Captain Thorne's squad already handled the primary danger."
Lorian exhaled, folding the letter and slipping it into his pocket. "When do we leave?"
"Tomorrow morning, at first light," the cadet said. "Meet at the southern gate, and be prepared for a few days out in the field."
"Understood," Lorian nodded.
The cadet offered a brisk salute before turning on his heel and marching down the hallway, the sound of his boots fading into the distance.
Closing the door, Lorian leaned back against it, staring at the ceiling. Wendigos. Ruins. A military research team. And Aric had already been there. He wasn't sure what excited him more—the chance to help with something that had drawn Aric's attention, or the opportunity to reconnect with his mentor.
He sighed heavily and pushed off the door. Tomorrow, he’d be headed to those ruins himself, tasked with assisting a mission he knew little about. But this was no ordinary assignment—Aric had been involved. That meant there was something important here, something worth investigating. Lorian felt a spark of excitement.
Lorian rubbed the back of his neck, the weight of everything beginning to press down on him again. His muscles ached from the long day of training, and though his mind buzzed with thoughts of the mission, exhaustion crept in, pulling him toward the bed. He wasn’t going to solve anything tonight. Sleep tugged at him harder, and before he knew it, he was crashing onto his bed, eyes slipping shut as sleep claimed him almost instantly.
It felt like no time had passed when he was suddenly jolted awake by a knock on the door. Groggy and disoriented, he blinked against the early light filtering through his window. The knock came again, sharper this time.
“Lorian, you up?” came a familiar voice from the other side of the door.
Sergeant Quinn.
Lorian bolted upright, the haze of sleep immediately replaced by the urgency of his squad leader's voice. “Yeah, just a second,” he called, stumbling out of bed and scrambling to get his boots on. His mind raced—why was Quinn here so early?
He swung the door open to see Quinn standing in the hallway, arms crossed and wearing his usual no-nonsense expression. His crisp uniform and well-prepared appearance only made Lorian feel more unprepared by comparison.
“You're slow, Aeloria,” Quinn remarked, eyes glancing over Lorian’s disheveled state. “You’ve got to be ready to go at all times. If this were a real mission, you’d already be behind. You should really have a bag ready in case something like this happens again.”
Lorian blinked, still trying to shake the remnants of sleep. “A… a bag?”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“A go-bag, Aeloria,” Quinn said, his tone sharper now. “One packed with essentials—gear, supplies, things you might need at a moment’s notice. You never know when you’ll get called out, and you need to be ready.”
Lorian nodded quickly, feeling the rush of urgency. “I’ll get it together now,” he muttered, stepping back into his room. He glanced around, trying to gather his thoughts while mentally running through the list of things he needed.
His uniform was a mess, but he had no time to fix that. He grabbed a sturdy pack from the corner of his room and began stuffing it with his basic gear—extra clothes, his sword, a utility knife, some rations, and a canteen of water. The kit was a far cry from organized, but it would have to do for now.
“You’ve really got to be faster about this,” Quinn remarked, leaning against the doorframe as he watched Lorian rush around. “If you’re out in the field, there’s no time to stop and gather everything. A go-bag should always be ready.”
“Got it,” Lorian said through clenched teeth, zipping up the bag and slinging it over his shoulder.
Once he was packed and ready, Lorian turned back to Quinn, who gave him a quick once-over. “We’ve been assigned to assist the researchers heading to the ruins,” Quinn explained. “Our job is to handle the basics—watch duty, helping with supplies. It’s supposed to be safe, but I wouldn’t let your guard down. These things can change fast.”
Lorian nodded, tightening his grip on the strap of his bag. “Do we know what they’re researching?”
Quinn shrugged. “Something to do with those Wendigos they cleared out recently. The site’s already been secured, but they’re being cautious. Wendigos were guarding something, so there might still be dangers out there.”
Lorian’s mind raced, but this time, excitement buzzed in his chest. Wendigos. Ruins. And Aric had already been there, which meant something important was happening. He couldn’t wait to get there and find out more.
As they made their way toward the meeting point, Quinn shot him a sideways glance. “And one more thing, Aeloria. Keep yourself in check. We can’t afford any distractions on this mission. Understood?”
Lorian’s jaw tightened, but he nodded. “Understood, Sergeant.”
With that, they stepped into the early morning light, the academy already buzzing with activity.
As Lorian and Quinn made their way through the academy grounds, they passed groups of cadets bustling about, preparing for their daily routines. The morning sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the stone buildings and the dew-dampened grass. It was still early, but the atmosphere was already charged with the anticipation of the mission ahead.
Lorian adjusted the strap of his bag, keeping pace with Quinn. His mind was still replaying the brief exchange about the Wendigos and the ruins. The idea of Wendigos guarding something gnawed at him—what could have been so important that such dangerous creatures would be stationed there?
As they rounded a corner, the rest of Lorian’s squad came into view, already gathered near the main gates of the academy. The group stood at ease, casually talking among themselves, though they straightened up as soon as they noticed Quinn approaching.
“Alright, cadets,” Quinn called, his voice cutting through the morning air. “We’re moving out in five. Make sure everything’s packed and ready.”
Lorian’s squadmates gave him a nod as he joined them. Ren, with his usual easygoing demeanor, grinned and clapped Lorian on the back. “Ready for some fieldwork, Aeloria? This should be a breeze.”
Lorian forced a smile, though there was a flicker of eagerness in his tone. He noticed Sera checking her daggers again, her face set in its usual no-nonsense expression, while Cecil was leaning against a tree, his sharp blue eyes scanning the area as if expecting something to happen any second. Nia was fussing with her pack, making sure all her supplies were organized.
“Yeah,” Lorian muttered, though his eagerness was clear. “Should be straightforward.”
As the squad finished their final checks, Lorian’s attention drifted to a group of people standing near a convoy of carriages just beyond the gates. These weren’t cadets—they were the researchers. Unlike the cadets, who wore practical uniforms, the researchers were dressed in the standard military-issue robes for scholars and mages. Their outfits, while functional, were marked with distinct insignias that indicated their rank and field of expertise. Some had small satchels slung across their shoulders, while others carried bundles of scrolls and magical equipment.
Lorian squinted at the group, noting the air of importance surrounding them. There was an older man at the center, his long gray hair tied back, his face lined with age and experience. He was talking quietly with another researcher, a younger woman with bright red hair tied in a braid. Both of them wore the emblem of the kingdom’s military research division—a symbol that marked them as experts in the arcane.
"That's Professor Aldric Vael," Quinn said, catching Lorian’s interest. “One of the kingdom’s top experts in ancient magic and relics. He’s been with the military research division for decades. Knows more about arcane history than anyone else alive.”
Lorian studied the older man, noting the sharpness in his eyes and the confident way he moved. Vael wasn’t like the other researchers, most of whom were young and chattering quietly among themselves. Vael seemed more at ease with the military than the scholars around him, and it made sense, given his background.
Professor Aldric Vael was known for leading several high-risk, high-reward missions for the kingdom, often venturing into areas where ancient magic still pulsed beneath the surface. His deep knowledge of arcane history and relics made him the go-to person when the military needed expertise on old, potentially dangerous sites. Stories floated around about Vael being instrumental in recovering lost magical artifacts from crumbling temples and haunted battlegrounds. A legend in his own right.
As they grouped near the carriages, Vael raised his voice, calm but authoritative. “We’ll be arriving at the ruins by late afternoon. Once there, follow the safety protocols I’ve outlined. These artifacts, though dormant, are not to be handled without permission. The ruins have been secured, but we still approach with caution.”
The younger researchers nodded in agreement, and Vael’s gaze briefly flicked toward Lorian’s squad, as if assessing them as well.
Ren leaned in toward Lorian, his voice barely above a whisper. “You think they’re really here just to poke around some ruins?”
Lorian shrugged, though his own curiosity had been piqued. “It’s strange they’d need a full squad of cadets just to carry supplies.”
“Exactly,” Ren muttered, though he straightened up as Quinn shot them both a warning glance.
The convoy began to move, the researchers climbing into carriages while Lorian and the others fell into step, forming a protective perimeter around the carriages. The road ahead was long, but the mood remained relatively calm, the sound of their boots crunching against the dirt filling the air.
As they marched, Ren sidled up beside Lorian again, lowering his voice. “So, have you heard anything more about what we’re really heading into? I keep hearing bits and pieces about Wendigos, but what were they guarding?”
Lorian frowned, remembering the conversation he’d had the night before. “The cadet who briefed me mentioned something about Wendigos guarding something in the ruins. But it didn’t sound like they knew much beyond that.”
“Wendigos guarding something?” Ren raised an eyebrow. “That’s not exactly normal. You think it has something to do with those relics the professor’s after?”
Lorian’s eyes drifted toward Professor Vael, who was riding near the front, quietly discussing something with another researcher. “Maybe. We’ll find out soon enough.”
The road ahead stretched onward, but with each step, Lorian’s eagerness only grew. The ruins, the potential for seeing Aric again, and the mystery of the Wendigos all swirled in his mind.
Ren shot Lorian a glance. “You ever seen a Wendigo?”
Lorian’s lips curled into a grim smile. “Yeah, once. Saw one up close. They're horrifying—definitely not something you want to take lightly.”
Ren nodded, his earlier humor replaced by a touch of seriousness. “Guess we’ll need to be on our toes out there.”
Lorian agreed silently, though beneath the surface, excitement continued to build. Whatever lay ahead, he was ready to face it head-on.