“Gather up!” the instructor wearing light armor shouts unnecessarily, as the acolytes had already crowded in front of the three men, eagerly awaiting their words. He looks them over with a deep frown that suggests disapproval, which sparks some interest in me for his words.

“I’ve made no secret what I think about our acolytes joining these campaigns. The Bleak Peaks have devoured men far stronger and smarter than you, than me, for generations. It is not a place to train. It is not a place to gain experience. Some would say it’s no place for men at all.”

He looks over the crowd and nods, seemingly pleased that their enthusiasm has been banked. “However, I won’t try to dissuade anyone here from turning back. The Peaks’ reputation is well known. If you’ve decided to challenge the harsh lands despite that, then you must have your reasons. The Hall’s role is to guide so I am here to offer you advice. If you don’t want to die, I suggest you remember it.”

He raises his voice. “Keep your eyes peeled! Danger can come from any place. Not every enemy will wait until you are ready and attack you head-on. They will hide beneath the snow. They attack your camps in the middle of the night. They’ll pretend to be dead and wait for you to come close. Remember. As long as you are in enemy territory, you are not safe. Stay vigilant.

“Second, supplies! The Bleak Peaks have the harshest weather conditions on the continent. The storms are mildest in winter but that still means winds that can easily pull weakly secured tents from the ground, cold that can kill a man in hours, snow up to your knees and ice where you least expect it. There is no food besides the monsters and some of them aren’t edible. If you aren’t prepared, you’ll be a drain on your comrades, weakening the whole of the campaign.

“There’s also the possibility of getting separated from your comrades. It happens more than you think so don’t make the mistake of thinking it won’t happen to you. When you are preparing your bags, ask yourself if you have everything you need to survive the Bleak Peaks alone if you had to. Ultimately, your survival is in your hands.

“Third, listen to your commanders! You’re rookies. There are a handful of you for whom this will be your first journey past those unforgiving mountains. For others, you’ll have been doing this for a few years.

“That’s nothing compared to the knights who have been fighting the armies of the winter lords for decades, their fathers decades before them, and their fathers’ fathers decades before them. Don’t ignore your own judgment and instincts, but the last thing you want to do is ignore the experts. And if they tell you to drop, for saints’ sake, drop.

“And finally, I want to remind you of the goal for this campaign. Does anyone want to tell me what your goal is? The condition for victory?”

He stares at the acolytes until one of them offers a hesitant response. “Pushing back the monsters?”

“No!”

“The goal is to clear and claim land past the Bleak Peaks,” another offers.

“NO!” the instructor shouts again. “I can see from the stupid looks on your faces that many of you are also confused. Let me tell you something obvious. Your goal is to make it back alive.

“You’re not soldiers following orders. You aren’t knights serving the fort who’ve been chasing an impossible dream for generations. You’re acolytes of the Grand Hall. Perhaps one day you’ll join one of Victory’s orders but today, your priority is your growth. You can’t grow if you’re dead. So, make it back alive. Even if it means the campaign fails. Even if it means running home with your tails tucked between your legs. As long as you’re alive, you win.”

He pauses, letting his words seep in. I don’t know what he sees but after a few moments, he nods in satisfaction. “Alright, that’s enough from me. Good luck, may the saints protect you all.”

The acolytes clap as he steps back, making the older man snort. The red-robed instructor grins wryly as he steps forward and the applause dies down. “What I have to share with you all isn’t quite as serious as my fellow,” he starts in a much calmer tone than the foundation instructor, “but I hope it will prove just as useful.

“Risking your lives shouldn’t come with no reward. Fort Victory pays its contractors according to contribution. As relatively weak acolytes who will mainly be protected, what you can contribute is little and your pay will reflect such. However, if you know what to look for, there are plenty of treasures to be found past the Peaks.

“Your commander has a list of manabeast parts and other valuable things that can be found in the north. You can sell them in Victory or bring them back to Quest for a significant payday. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the list on the journey. It’d be a shame if you let crowns slip through your fingers through ignorance. My advice to you acolytes is that danger and opportunity go hand in hand. Good luck and may you come back with a fortune.”

The clapping after his speech is short and subdued, the acolytes more preoccupied whispering to themselves about the fortune they are going to make. They quickly quiet themselves as Sir Pucky steps forward. Clearing his throat is enough to invoke silence.

“I am Sir Polluck, a knight of Victory. I will be joining this campaign and marching with you past the mountains.” His proclamation is met with a few cheers but he waves them off. “But I’m not here to talk about the campaign. There will be plenty of people to explain what is expected of you and what you need to do to keep your head. What I want to share with you is information on Victory.

“The fort is different from any city. The people and…traditions are different. Victory doesn’t take kindly to scoundrels. Even if you don’t break the king’s law, you can find yourself facing a knight’s blade. Be respectful of the people and they will return it. Cause trouble…well, we solve trouble with swords. Also keep in mind, these are the people who will be fighting beside you in that land of death. You’re depending on them to keep you safe. It’s a good idea to keep from pissing them off.”

Once again, his gaze moves to me but it’s so brief, I doubt anyone noticed. Except Alana. From the way her hands ball into fists, she noticed and she’s not happy. I grab one of her tense hands, massaging it until it relaxes.

“There’s nothing to be worried about,” I mutter as the knight continues his speech about the supposed “rules” of the fort. “We’re going to make him eat his words. All of them.”

She nods stiffly. “I haven’t been training for nothing.”

“How’s that going? Is Kii being nice?”

She lets out a bark of a laugh. “Is she ever?”

“Depends on your definition of nice.”

“We’ve made progress. That’s what I care about. You’re not going to leave me behind this time.”

Our eyes meet. This is where I want to reassure her that I won’t but the truth is, if things get dangerous, I’ll have Geneva take her and run. I understand her rush, I feel it too, maybe for different reasons, but we have time. I won’t recklessly risk her life.

“Do your best to keep up.”

She glares at me but the heat in her gaze isn’t anger.

“That’s my cue,” Will says suddenly, running forward. He steps in front of the acolytes as Sir Pucky steps back. “This is the last call for supplies. If there’s anything you’ve forgotten, now’s the time. If you’re skimping to save money, don’t. Your life is more important. We move out in one hour!”