The outpost gates groaned open as the supply convoy rolled through.
Every single cart was intact. Every soldier was alive. The only things missing were a few canvas covers.
Captain Venus was waiting inside the gate, wearing his usual scowl. He walked down the line of carts, checking every cart like he was bracing himself to find dead soldiers piled under the canvas.
He didn't find any.
His scowl slipped. Just barely.
The sergeant who had been pinned down in the canyon walked over, still looking like he'd seen a ghost.
"Sir, those academy kids... they reorganized our entire defense in under a minute. The one with the glasses had us forming geometric kill zones I've never even seen in training manuals. The girl with the spear sealed six crawler tunnels by herself. And the archer shot down three fliers before I could even blink."
Venus looked at the sergeant, then at Emric, who was standing at attention, looking incredibly proud of himself.
