The academy reacted with panic when they found the bodies. The faculty called it a "demon incursion from the mountains." No one ntioned Harvesters or fragnts.
General Theron Gilverc demanded a full military investigation. He didn't get one. Headmaster Corvin quietly buried the incident, as he had buried so many before.
Elara Moss recovered slowly. Her fragnt had been damaged during her escape—it flickered in and out, sotis granting her power, sotis leaving her helpless.
[Elara Moss – Order Fragnt 09. Status: unstable. Recomnd low-stress environnt.]
Tobin rarely left her side. They were the only family each other had left.
Varyan sat on the chapel roof, looking out at the mountains. The Forbidden Peak was visible on clear days—a dark spire shrouded in clouds.
Seris climbed up beside him.
"You're brooding," she said.
"I'm thinking."
"Sa thing, with you."
He didn't smile. "The tall Harvester said 'next ti I won't co alone.' He's been saying that for weeks. Eventually, he'll bring an army."
"Then we need an army of our own."
"We have three fragnt-bearers, a rchant's daughter, and a retired headmaster. That's not an army."
Seris was quiet for a mont. "There are others. Fragnt-bearers who are hiding, like we were. If we could find them, recruit them..."
"That takes ti we don't have."
"Then we make ti."
Varyan looked at her. Her mismatched eyes were fierce.
"You really believe we can win?"
"I believe we can survive. That's the sa thing, with us."
He almost smiled. "You're quoting ."
"Soone has to. You make so good points, between the brooding."
[「ECHO」: Quest update – "Recruit Other Fragnt-bearers" – Potential allies detected within 100 miles. Estimated 5-8 unaffiliated bearers.]
"Fine," Varyan said. "We'll try. But we need more than just numbers. We need a plan."
They spent the rest of the night planning. Lira provided maps of the surrounding region, marking villages and trade routes where fragnt-bearers might hide. Seris contributed her knowledge of Harvester tactics. Tobin offered ideas about using speed for reconnaissance.
By dawn, they had a list of potential allies—six nas, all bearing fragnts, all last seen within a week's travel.
And they had a tiline: two weeks to recruit, two weeks to train, then an assault on the Forbidden Peak.
[Quest tiline set. Success probability: 31%.]
"Still not great odds," Var
yan muttered.
"Better than 17%," Seris said.
"Barely."
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