Since that day, Adarlan had lost a third of its territory. The witches’ attack on Eternity District had not only obliterated the city but also devastated much of the surrounding land. Rast District, a highland refuge, now faced the immense challenge of providing aid and shelter to those affected. Meanwhile, the entire kingdom of Adarlan bore the weight of this significant loss.

News of Eternity District’s destruction spread like wildfire, stirring sympathy in the hearts of many, including the King of Adarlan. In response to the crisis, the King made a difficult and controversial decision—he ordered a portion of the adult refugees to enlist in the fight against the witches. His goal was twofold: to bolster the military forces and to curb the looming food crisis. Some viewed it as a necessary step for survival in dire times, while others condemned it as cruel and inhumane.

By the third day at the Rast refugee camp, the situation had grown increasingly chaotic. The influx of displaced people had rapidly depleted food supplies. Eve used the task of fetching water from a nearby stream as an excuse to escape the stifling atmosphere. When she was done, she sat beneath the shade of a large tree, letting its canopy shield her from the relentless sun. The gentle murmur of the flowing stream filled her ears as she sank into her thoughts.

Again and again, her mind drifted to Arthur. What was he doing now? Had he meant what he said?

She wanted to blame the officers who had only saved the noble families. She wanted to blame the witches who had caused all of this. She wanted to blame herself for not being strong enough to fight back. But none of it mattered. No matter how much she thought about it, the truth remained the same—she was just a girl with no one left in a world that had already fallen apart.

But if this world refused to give her a choice, then she would make one for herself. She would not let herself remain a victim. If she wanted to survive, she had to become stronger—stronger than anyone else.

Eve stared at her reflection in the water. The girl who stared back at her was nearly unrecognizable—disheveled, filthy, with hollow eyes. What was the point of being angry? What was the point of crying? Her father would not return. Arthur was not here. And the world would continue moving forward as if she had never existed.

But, hey, there was nothing wrong with being angry. Nothing wrong with crying. Humans needed to release their pain somehow.

A sudden thought flashed through her mind.

If I join the military, I’ll definitely find Arthur.

A small smile played on her lips. She lifted her head, stood up, and prepared to carry the water back to camp.

***

That event had now become history—

The gateway to ruin.

Stolen novel; please report.

Year 911, Adarlan Island, Adarlan Kingdom, Rast District.

That night, in the silence of the women’s military barracks, Eve sat among the new recruits. A dim light flickered from an anala in the corner of the room. The sound of horse hooves passed outside, accompanied by the rustling of leaves in the night breeze. Eve glanced around at the faces beside her—strangers who, in an instant, had become companions on the same journey.

"Uh, hi?" A bright-haired girl spoke up, breaking the silence. She was sitting on the bed beside Eve’s.

"Would you all mind sharing a little about your background and why you decided to join?" She smiled, directing her gaze toward the others nearby.

The other recruits nodded in agreement, returning her smile.

The girl introduced herself first. "I’m from Gravelhod District. You all know about the attack on Eternity District, right? That’s why I’m here. I joined to fight for Adarlan."

The red-haired girl beside her, wearing a crimson pendant, seemed hesitant. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, as if unsure how much to share.

"I’d rather not talk about my background," she finally said.

The blonde girl raised an eyebrow. "Why, Emilia?"

"I just don’t want to." Emilia’s eyes locked onto hers, sharp and unwavering, making it clear that she was firm in her decision.

The blonde girl—Matilda—nodded in understanding before turning to Eve. "What about you, Eve? Where are you from? What made you join?"

Eve’s sharp brown eyes gleamed in the dim light. She took her turn to speak.

"I hate where I come from."

Matilda blinked, intrigued. "We don’t get to choose where we’re born, but we can choose how we live, right?"

"I was born in Eternity District—"

Matilda gasped, cutting her off. "W-what?"

Emilia’s eyes widened as well. "How did you survive that?"

Matilda’s excitement grew. "You… You must have seen an actual battle against the witches!" she exclaimed, her curiosity evident as she hoped Eve would reveal something about the witches.

Meanwhile, in the men’s barracks at the same time, the male recruits were also sharing stories. Arthur sat among them, his legs crossed as he listened to the chatter.

A brown-haired boy sitting on Arthur’s bed flashed a playful grin. "Our instructor is terrifying, huh? He’s strict and bald."

Laughter rippled through the room. Arthur smirked. "Yeah, Nathan’s right. All he does is yell."

"And make us run at the crack of dawn," another recruit—John, a blond-haired boy sitting on the wooden floor—groaned. "I swear, that’s his only way of motivating us."

"Still, you can’t deny it’s making us tougher," Nicho, the recruit beside John, pointed out. "If the instructor heard you guys talking like this, you’d be dead."

"Who cares?" Nathan shrugged.

Samuel, who was sharpening his sword in the corner, finally spoke. "We should focus on tomorrow’s training. The instructor may be harsh, but it’s for our own good."

"But there’s nothing wrong with blowing off some steam, right?" Nathan grinned.

Samuel’s serious expression didn’t waver. "Remember, we’re here to protect Adarlan."

The firelight flickered, casting warm glows on their faces as the night deepened.

Nicho leaned forward. "We need strict instructors if we want to survive out there. They’re teaching us the discipline we’ll need in real battles."

Nathan nodded but huffed. "Still, they could treat us like humans. This feels like hell every day."

"Maybe that’s the point," Nicho mused. "War is hell. And the greatest enemy isn’t just the one in front of you—it’s the fear inside you."

Samuel sat down with the others, his expression thoughtful. "Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll thank them. This hellish training might be what saves us on the battlefield."

The recruits chuckled, murmuring in agreement, finding comfort in their shared complaints.

"Enough about that bald instructor," Arthur suddenly cut in. "Got any other topics?"

John’s eyes lit up. "Actually, yes!"

He took a deep breath before continuing, "That brown-haired girl who talked to you after training—who is she? You two seemed… familiar."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Oh, just a childhood friend. Haven’t seen her in years. Pure coincidence that she enlisted this year."

Then, Arthur smirked. "But, John, I noticed you watching Eve a lot during training. And now you’re asking about her? You like her, don’t you?"

John’s face turned red. He waved his hands defensively. "That’s not it!"

"Hey, everyone! John likes Eve!" Nathan suddenly yelled, his voice loud enough to rival a war horn. The other recruits burst into laughter.

John groaned in frustration. "Come on, I was just asking!"

Suddenly, the barracks door burst open, slamming against the wall. Their commanding instructor stomped inside, his boots echoing through the room.

His voice boomed through the barracks. "What is this? Do you think this is social hour? It’s lights out!"

Nathan stood up immediately. "Apologies, sir! We were just—"