The Northern Wall seemed much larger now that they had reached it. It towered above them, blocking the skies. The once white blocks of stone it was made of had been blackened by ravages of time, and the scars of myriad battles. Each block was taller than a man, and as wide as several.

  “I wonder how they even built this…” Arwen’s whisper barely reached his ears. Her eyes were wide open as she tried to look up at the top of the wall.

  “It is said it wasn’t the work of mere men.” A voice rang, clear as day and filled with authority. “Your Highness,” the owner of the voice stepped out from the gates of the small fort situated at the foot of the wall. “I apologise for not greeting you properly – we are short on manpower, as you may have guessed.”

  She was a tall woman, her sun-burnt face scarred by battle, and her dark brown hair slowly greying at its roots.

  “Commander Morrigan,” Midhir said after dismounting his horse. “Thank you for coming down to greet me, though I assure you nothing more is necessary. I’m well aware of the current situation. We’ll begin helping immediately.”

  Her expression visibly relaxed. “I’ll take any help I can get, sire.” A tired smile flashed across her face. “In that case,” she furrowed her brows. “First and second year students will follow Lieutenant Forrest. Staff and third year students will follow Lieutenant Horos.” She then turned to Midhir. “Please accompany me, your highness.”

  “Follow me to the stables!” The Lieutenant shouted.

  “Give your horses to the first and second years and follow me!” The other Lieutenant’s voice rose over the first’s. While the students rushed about, and the Solus staff reluctantly followed, Midhir turned towards the members of the honour guard.

  “Thank you for accompanying us.”

  They bowed, slamming their fists over their hearts before wordlessly turning and riding off. Lieutenant Haarkos and Rhoan were the two to remain. They handed the reigns of their steeds to the approaching students, then took their place just a few steps behind Midhir.

  Commander Morrigan led them inside the gates. The fort served as a barracks and gatehouse more than anything else. This wasn’t the only fort built leaning against the Northern Wall. Several of these were constructed along the wall, each built as close to the Pylons as possible. Soldiers stationed along the wall called these their homes.

  Passing through the hall, Commander Morrigan led them up a set of circular stairs. “There are two stairs like these,” she explained as they climbed up. “They are the only way up to the wall from inside the fort.”

  It took a short while for them to reach the top of the stairs. Midhir paused at the very top of the stairs, leaning against the wall for a second to catch his breath.

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  Commander Morrigan smiled. “It takes a while to get used to.”

  Lieutenant Haarkos furrowed his brows. “Clearly,” he muttered, somewhat out of breath. He quickly recovered, as did Rhoan. Still feeling winded, Midhir nodded and stepped away from the wall.

  Commander Morrigan pushed the metal door open. Sunlight poured inside, momentarily blinding them. Shading his eyes with his hand, Midhir stepped out onto the Northern Wall.

  The wall was wide. Nearly a dozen people could easily walk side by side and there would still be plenty of space left. Even now, groups of soldiers marched along the wall, some keeping watch over the border, others making their way towards whatever mission they were given.

  Midhir walked across the wall, approaching the parapets overlooking beyond the Empire’s borders.

  The desert glimmered under the bright sunlight. It almost looked like an ocean of gold that stretched as far as the eye could see, all the way to the horizon where the skies met the earth. Not a single city or stronghold was in sight – not a single man made structure.

  “The nearest Caladorian city is behind those hills,” Commander Morrigan explained, probably noticing his seeking gaze. She pointed to the left, where the sand created large, vast hills. “It’s about a day’s journey on horseback – not that a horse could travel across the desert.” She added with a chuckle. “Only a couple of hours via airship, so we must be vigilant, always.”

  Midhir scowled. Wasn’t that a small city, created specifically to trade with Eldoria and the western kingdoms? “I thought Calador’s military power was concentrated in the northeast.”

  Commander Morrigan hesitated. “It was.” She lowered her voice as a dozen soldiers rushed past, heading east along the wall. “But after the desert started to burn, their troops retreated southward. I hear they lost their two northern most cities to the fires, but we never got the confirmation.”

  “I see.” Midhir clenched his fists. The desert was burning – Circe had shown it to him when she returned his vision to normal. While there was no sign of the golden flames now, a part of him knew they were still there – up north. The desert was spreading too, so Calador was rapidly losing natural resources as well as land.

  His father was right to be concerned. And perhaps that was why the Theocracy had sent an ambassador after all these years.

  “As you’re already aware, we’re quite undermanned at the moment, with the recent happenings in the region.” Commander Morrigan spoke up. “There have been several tears in the veil along the wall, specifically towards the west. Our resonance casters have done a great job at healing the tears, but we don’t have the manpower to cleanse the area fully.” They followed her along the wall, westward, as she continued speaking. “I have no intention of endangering students, so they will not be sent near any existing tears. Instead, Solus students will take care of the cleansing.”

  Midhir nodded. “Yes, that’s what I’ve been told. It should free enough of your men to allow for more rapid responses to the tears.”

  Commander Morrigan clenched her jaw. “Indeed. We have been unable to catch the terrorists, but perhaps we will stand a chance now.” She slowed to a halt and turned to face them. “I was informed that you are one of the cultists targets. Would you consider staying in the fort until your return to Derwen Hold?”

  “No.” He wasn’t going to cower and hide while the cultists slowly continued unravelling reality around him. If they succeeded, there was going to be no place left to hide anyways. They needed to be stopped before that happened. “Lieutenant Haarkos and Rhoan will guard me.”

  Commander Morrigan pressed her lips together. “With all due respect-“

  “Commander, reality is unravelling around us as we speak. They seek to destroy the veil in its entirety. What good will hiding do if they succeed?” Midhir met her gaze. “Let them come, let them try and attack me. We will be prepared.”