Dawn slowly spread across the plains.
The early morning mist still covered parts of the camp when the first sounds began to emerge.
Footsteps.
Orders.
The creaking of wagons.
The distant clashing of steel against steel.
Around the Northern camp, thousands of men awoke for another day of war.
Campfires died out.
Messengers crossed the corridors formed by rows of tents carrying new reports.
Healers reorganized supplies.
And above all of it—
the banner of the white dragon remained raised.
The fabric stirred beneath the morning wind like a silent guardian watching over the movement below.
At the center of the camp, the largest war tent remained surrounded by knights of the White Order.
Men entered.
Men left.
Reports changed hands.
Orders were relayed.
The movements had not stopped during the night.
Nor would they stop with the coming dawn.
Inside the tent, maps covered the large central table.
Cassian stood alone before it.
His eyes traveled across the maps.
His fingers moved markers.
Corrected positions.
Repositioned units.
New notes occupied the empty spaces left during the night.
Beside the table, reports had already formed a small pile.
Another document was opened.
Read.
Separated.
FWOOSH.
The entrance flap was pulled aside.
Cassian did not even raise his eyes.
Reinhardt entered.
His white hair was still slightly damp from the morning fog.
He cast a single glance at the maps.
Then at Cassian.
"Since when have you been here?"
Cassian finished marking a new position on the map.
"A few hours."
Reinhardt observed the accumulated reports.
"Did you sleep?"
"Enough."
The answer came without hesitation.
Without saying anything else, Reinhardt took his usual position at Cassian's right side.
A few moments later—
FWOOSH.
The entrance opened again.
Garrick crossed through the tent.
A brief nod.
Nothing more.
The heavy armor produced low sounds with each step.
He took his place on the opposite side of the table.
Silent.
Motionless.
Selvaria entered soon after.
The soft morning light crossed through the opening before the entrance closed once more.
Ice-blue eyes swept across the inside of the tent.
Maps.
Reports.
Markers.
Only the distant sounds of the camp awakening echoed within the tent.
Cassian observed the maps for a few more seconds.
As though organizing his own thoughts.
Soon, he raised his eyes.
"Since everyone has arrived..."
His voice remained calm.
"Let's begin."
Silence took the tent.
Only for an instant.
Selvaria observed the empty spaces around the table.
Then turned her eyes toward Cassian.
"We are beginning a war council without two of the five commanders?"
Cassian held her gaze.
"I intended to address that next."
His fingers moved one of the reports across the table.
"Roven has already received his instructions for today."
A brief pause.
"He decided to advance some preparations."
Selvaria's eyes remained on him.
Cassian continued.
"As for Kaizer..."
The pause was almost imperceptible.
"He suffered some injuries during yesterday's battles."
"Nothing life-threatening."
Selvaria's eyes narrowed.
"But I considered it prudent to temporarily pull him from the front lines."
"Hmph."
Garrick released a low sound through his nose.
Emotionless.
Selvaria's eyes shifted toward him.
For an instant.
Garrick remained motionless.
Arms crossed.
His expression seemed as hard as ever.
But there was a faint trace of tension.
A tension Selvaria rarely saw in him.
Her eyes returned to Cassian.
"Injuries."
The repetition came low.
Cassian held her gaze without hesitation.
"Nothing that compromises the campaign."
The answer came immediately.
Controlled.
Selvaria held the stare.
Then—
FWOOSH.
The entrance flap was pulled aside.
Everyone turned their eyes.
Sèsinmè crossed through the entrance in silence.
Her robes moved softly.
Her face remained serene.
Garrick followed her approach.
His jaw hardened.
For a brief instant, his eyes rested on Sèsinmè's neck.
Then they shifted away.
Selvaria noticed.
Sèsinmè stopped before the table.
Her eyes quickly swept across those present.
At last, they rested on Cassian.
"I see I arrived in time."
Selvaria stared at her for a few moments before speaking.
"I fear I do not recall seeing you among the men of the North."
Her voice came smooth.
Polite.
"And yet you entered this tent like someone expected."
Reinhardt turned his eyes toward Selvaria.
His expression remained unchanged.
"I believe the presence of someone in this tent requires no..."
"...additional justification when authorized by the commander of the campaign."
His pale eyes moved slowly.
Briefly stopping on Garrick.
"I believe that settles the matter."
Garrick's fingers pressed lightly against his own arm.
Silence took the room.
Cassian waited a few moments.
Just enough for the matter to die on its own.
Soon, he turned his eyes back toward Sèsinmè.
"Even so, introductions are necessary."
His fingers rested on the table.
"Lady Sèsinmè."
A brief pause.
"She is one of the representatives of the Marquisate of Vhaelor in this campaign."
His eyes swept across those present.
"None of you met her during her last passage through the North."
"At the time, the Five were stationed in Karngard."
Cassian turned his eyes back to the maps.
"But know that even His Majesty showed interest in her presence."
Without placing excessive weight on the information.
As though merely recording a fact.
"And starting today, she will formally participate in this campaign."
His eyes rose once more.
"As for the rest..."
"We have more urgent matters."
His hand moved one of the markers across the map.
"And the time to resolve them is running short."
"Sixty-three days."
Silence remained over the table.
"That is how long it has been since the siege began."
His eyes traveled across the moved pieces.
"When we crossed the gates of the Northern Kingdom..."
"...we marched with sixty-two thousand men."
His hand rested on one of the documents.
"Today, forty-four thousand, eight hundred and seventeen remain."
No one spoke.
Cassian continued.
"We lost seventeen thousand, one hundred and eighty-three men."
Another report was opened.
"Four thousand, two hundred and sixty-one horses."
"Thirty-seven percent of the medical reserves."
"And a little more than half the arrow stockpiles intended for the campaign."
His fingers touched another document.
"Maintaining the current rate of consumption..."
"...our campaign reserves will sustain between six and eight weeks of operations."
No emotion emerged in his voice.
"Less if the intensity of the fighting increases."
Garrick crossed his arms even tighter.
"Nothing beyond what is expected for a campaign of this scale."
Cassian did not respond immediately.
It was Reinhardt who spoke.
"The problem is not our losses."
His eyes remained on the map.
"It's theirs."
Selvaria turned her eyes toward the marshal.
Reinhardt continued.
"After sixty-three days of campaign..."
"...Arkhel should have responded more aggressively."
His fingers touched the wall drawn upon the map.
"With more resources."
"Or with their Awakened."
A brief pause.
"But none of that happened."
His eyes rose.
"And that concerns me more than any report about our reserves."
Cassian nodded.
"I agree."
His hand moved a marker near the walls.
"We have been pressuring Arkhel for two months."
"And we still have not seen their true response."
A brief pause.
"The only significant change on their side was the appearance of Alaric."
Silence remained for a few moments.
Sèsinmè observed the maps.
The markers.
The lines.
As though she were looking at something beyond them.
"Perhaps we are observing the matter the wrong way."
Eyes turned toward her.
Selvaria observed her for a few moments.
"And what would be the right way?"
Sèsinmè tilted her head slightly.
"Everyone in this tent seems concerned because Arkhel still has not responded."
Her fingers touched the edge of the table softly.
"But that also means we have had..."
"...sixty-three days to advance without facing their true strength."
Garrick frowned.
"And that is supposed to be comforting?"
"No."
The answer came calmly.
"Merely relevant."
Her eyes shifted toward the map.
"An unknown enemy is dangerous."
"But an enemy that remains hidden also loses opportunities."
Cassian observed her for a few seconds.
"What are you trying to say?"
Sèsinmè held his gaze.
"If they truly possessed the means to end this campaign quickly..."
A brief pause.
"...why are we still here?"
No one answered immediately.
Not even Reinhardt.
Silence spread through the tent.
Heavy.
Reflective.
At last, the marshal spoke.
"Either they do not possess such means."
His eyes remained on Arkhel.
"Or they are waiting for something."
Cassian observed the maps once more.
Soon, he nodded.
"Whatever the answer may be..."
His hand closed lightly around the edge of the table.
"...we cannot afford to discover it too late."
FWOOSH.
The tent entrance was pulled aside once again.
A knight of the Order of the White Dragons entered.
Light blond hair slightly disheveled.
Calm green eyes.
The white armor with golden details reflected the soft morning light.
Over his shoulders, a dark-red cloak rested motionless.
He stopped beside Sèsinmè.
Fist closed over his chest.
"Forgive the interruption."
His voice came calm.
Without hesitation.
His eyes briefly moved across those present before resting on Cassian.
"As per your orders, commander."
A brief bow of the head.
"The redistributions were completed before dawn."
His fingers opened a small report.
"All fronts received their new reinforcements."
"The detachments have already assumed their positions."
Another brief pause.
"At this moment, the armies await..."
"...the arrival of their respective commanders to begin movement."
Cassian nodded slightly.
"Excellent."
His eyes moved toward the others present.
"There is one more change I must communicate."
His hand rested over the southern region of the map.
"While Kaizer remains away from the front lines..."
"...León will assume command of the southern front."
León showed no reaction.
He merely maintained his posture.
"Him?"
Garrick's deep voice cut through the tent.
Eyes turned toward León.
"He is going to command one of the fronts?"
León remained motionless.
Garrick rested one hand on the table.
"From what I heard..."
"...he still refuses the king's blood."
Sèsinmè's eyes shifted discreetly.
Selvaria observed León.
Reinhardt showed no reaction.
Cassian answered before anyone else could speak.
"Yes."
Garrick held his gaze.
"And even so, you intend to place him before Arkhel?"
Cassian rested one hand on the table.
"I do."
"León's proficiency with Anima has already placed him above most knights."
His eyes returned to Garrick.
"That is why His Majesty appointed him vice commander of the Order of the White Dragons."
Garrick remained silent.
His eyes lingered on León for one more instant.
Then shifted away.
As though the answer were sufficient.
Reinhardt observed León.
"Time has done you well."
León remained motionless.
"I no longer see the young man who arrived at Karngard years ago."
"I see someone capable of sustaining a front."
León inclined his head slightly.
"I had good teachers."
The answer came simply.
"Most of what I learned came from those who walked before me."
Reinhardt did not answer.
But a slight nod was enough.
Cassian turned his eyes back to the map.
His fingers moved one of the markers.
"There is nothing more to discuss."
His eyes swept across those present.
"Take your positions."
Footsteps echoed through the tent.
One by one, the commanders began to leave.
Reinhardt was the first.
Garrick left soon after.
Selvaria cast one last glance at the maps before crossing through the exit.
León inclined his head slightly toward Cassian.
"With your permission."
"Go."
The entrance flap closed once more.
Silence returned to the room.
Cassian turned his eyes toward Sèsinmè.
"How is he?"
"Stable."
The answer came calmly.
"The worst has already passed."
Cassian remained silent.
Waiting.
Sèsinmè observed the maps for a brief instant.
"But that does not mean the danger is over."
Her eyes rose.
"Many endure pain."
"Few endure losing what they believed they were."
Her voice remained serene.
"Do not remove the restraints."
"Nor the gag."
Cassian frowned slightly.
"You still believe he represents a risk?"
"No."
A brief pause.
"I believe he will represent a risk to himself."
Her gaze remained motionless.
"There are moments when it is not necessary to force a door."
"It is enough to find it open."
Silence fell over the tent once more.
"When he awakens, he will see what he lost."
"And for some time..."
Sèsinmè's eyes shifted toward the entrance.
"...that will be more dangerous than any enemy army."
Without saying anything else, she turned toward the exit.
"Lady Sèsinmè."
She stopped.
"How long?"
Sèsinmè remained silent for an instant.
"Until he accepts his own reality?"
A faint movement of the head.
"There is no short path to that, Lord Cassian."
And then she departed.