Anna the Priest

"Remember," Albert concluded, "on the battlefield, staying alive is what matters most. Don't try to be a hero. Retreat when it's time to retreat."

Jialan carefully committed every piece of advice to memory. He knew these experiences might save his life at a critical moment.

As he was leaving, Jialan hesitated before asking, "The enemy we'll be facing this time is...?"

Albert paused before answering, "The specifics are still unclear, but according to intelligence, there may be a large-scale magical beast riot. And..." He paused again. "Other forces may also be involved."

Jialan's heart stirred as he recalled the matter of the White Dragon Horse. But he knew now was not the time to press for answers.

Two mornings later, Mist Town was shrouded in a solemn atmosphere. Jialan stood at the entrance to the garrison, watching a formation slowly approach from afar. It was an elite force of more than two hundred soldiers, well-equipped and high in morale.

"Looks like the military is serious this time," Albert said quietly beside Jialan. "Those are the elites of the Seventh Legion."

Jialan nodded, his gaze searching through the ranks. He noticed a young woman in a white robe riding a fine white horse, a silver cross denoting her status as a priest pinned to her chest.

"That's the accompanying priest," Albert explained. "On the battlefield, a priest's group healing abilities are far beyond those of casters from other disciplines."

The arriving force soon joined the garrison troops, bringing their total numbers to around three hundred. Captain Kendy briefly spoke with the commander from military headquarters, then began reorganizing the troops and assigning the different units appropriately. Jialan saw Jack and two other physicians assigned to a medical squad of more than ten people. Young Jack looked both nervous and excited, clearly full of anticipation for the adventure ahead.

"Fall in!" Captain Kendy's voice rang out. Jialan and Albert quickly returned to formation.

The troops slowly advanced toward the Misty Forest. Jialan and Albert were assigned to the middle of the column, a relatively safe position. The young priest was not far from them.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse treetops, casting mottled shadows over the snow-covered ground. Jialan rode on horseback, feeling the steady rhythm of the horse's steps beneath him. Though they had already entered the Misty Forest, this stretch of road had been maintained for years by the border guards and was fairly level.

"Looks like today will go smoothly," Jialan said to Albert beside him. The old mage nodded, though a trace of worry still lingered on his face.

Jialan noticed that the young priest rode with elegant posture, her white robe gently fluttering in the breeze.

"Her name is Anna," Albert said, seemingly noticing Jialan's attention. "She was sent from Seventh Legion headquarters. She's young, but they say she's very gifted."

Jialan nodded and looked away. He knew that on the battlefield, priests were no less important than casters. Healing Spell was especially effective against magical injuries.

The first day passed without incident. At dusk, the troops made camp in a relatively open forest clearing. The soldiers skillfully erected tents and lit campfires. Albert, old and frail, retired to his tent early to rest.

Jialan carried a bag of magic powder and helped the soldiers set up the warning measures. After drawing the magic circle, he accurately added enough magic powder to serve as its energy source. Following a brief pause, he began chanting in the standard universal magical language. The surrounding soldiers watched Jialan with envious expressions. Perhaps they, too, hoped that one day one of their descendants would become a noble caster.

It was only a zero-tier magic circle, so the chant was not long. However, the camp of more than three hundred people was rather large, making the activation process somewhat complicated. As the chant echoed, magical elements in the air slowly flowed into the circle. At the mage's mental command, a flash of light suddenly burst forth before everything returned to calm. Any large creature passing through the barrier would trigger an alarm and emit a piercing cry.

"Scatter more here," Jialan told the soldier in charge of the watch. "The magical fluctuations in this area are rather chaotic. They may affect the barrier's effectiveness."

The soldiers treated Jialan's guidance with great respect. They knew that in the Misty Forest, these magical warning measures might save their lives.

After finishing his work, Jialan was about to return to his tent when he suddenly heard soft footsteps behind him. He turned and saw Anna walking toward him.

"Good evening, Mage Jialan," Anna said with a smile. Her voice was gentle, carrying a hint of warm strength.

"Good evening," Jialan replied, somewhat surprised. "It's so late. You haven't rested yet?"

Anna shook her head. "I saw you were still busy, so I came to see whether you needed any help."

Jialan noticed that Anna looked somewhat tired. Clearly, the day's work had not been easy. "You should get more rest," he said. "There may be even more need for you tomorrow."

Anna smiled. "You're right. Still, I think we should talk more."

Jialan nodded. He knew Anna had a point. On the battlefield, cooperation between casters and priests could often produce unexpected results.

The two walked side by side toward the campfire at the center of the camp. The Misty Forest was especially quiet at night, with only the crackling of the fire and the occasional call of a night owl in the distance.

They talked for a long time, from their respective experiences studying magic to their hopes and worries about this operation. Jialan discovered that Anna was not only an outstanding priest, but also had a deep understanding of magic.