Anna the Priest

"Remember," Albert summarized, "on the battlefield, staying alive is the most important thing. Don't be reckless; retreat when you need to."

Jialan diligently took down every piece of advice. He knew these experiences might save his life at a critical moment.

Leaving, Jialan hesitated for a moment before asking, "The enemies we're facing this time are..."

Albert paused for a moment before replying, "The specific situation is unclear, but according to intelligence, there might be a large-scale Magic Beast riot. And..." He paused again, "other forces might be involved."

Jialan's heart stirred, and he thought of the White Dragon Horse. But he knew now wasn't the time to press for details.

Two days later, at dawn, Mist Town was shrouded in a solemn atmosphere. Jialan stood at the entrance of the encampment, watching the approaching team in the distance. It was an elite force of over two hundred soldiers, well-equipped and high in morale.

"It seems the military is serious this time," Albert said in a low voice, standing beside Jialan. "That's an elite unit from the Seventh Legion."

Jialan nodded, his gaze searching through the ranks. He noticed a young woman in a white robe riding a white steed, a silver cross symbolizing 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 something other Spellcasters can't match."

The two forces quickly merged, bringing the total number to around three hundred. Captain Kendy and the commander from the military headquarters had a brief exchange before beginning to reorganize the troops, assigning different branches of service appropriately. Jialan saw the physician Jack and two other physicians assigned to a medical team of over ten people. Young Jack's face showed both nervousness and excitement, clearly anticipating the upcoming adventure.

"Assemble!" Captain Kendy's voice rang out. Jialan and Albert quickly rejoined their units.

The team slowly advanced into the Misty Forest. Jialan and Albert were assigned to the middle of the formation, a relatively safe position. The young female Priest was not far from them.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse treetops, casting dappled shadows on the snow-covered ground. Jialan rode his horse, feeling its steady gait beneath him. Although they had entered the Misty Forest, this path had been maintained by border guards for a long time and was still relatively flat.

"Looks like today will go smoothly," Jialan said to Albert beside him. The old Mage nodded, but a hint of worry remained on his face.

Jialan noticed the young Priest's elegant posture on her horse, her white robes gently billowing in the breeze.

"Her name is Anna," Albert seemed to notice Jialan's attention. "She was sent from the Seventh Legion's headquarters. Although young, she's said to be very talented."

Jialan nodded and looked away. He knew that on the battlefield, a Priest was as important as a Spellcaster, especially against magical damage, where a Priest's Healing Spell was remarkably effective.

The first day passed without incident. In the evening, the party set up camp in a relatively open clearing in the forest. Soldiers skillfully set up tents and started bonfires. Albert, being old and frail, retired to his tent early to rest.

Jialan, carrying a bag of magic powder, assisted the soldiers in setting up defensive measures. After drawing the magic circle, he accurately added enough magic powder to serve as an energy source. After a brief pause, he began chanting a spell in standard magical common tongue. The surrounding soldiers looked at Jialan with envy, perhaps hoping that one day their descendants would also produce a noble Spellcaster!

After all, it was only a zero-order magic circle, and the incantation wasn't long. The camp of over three hundred people was quite large, and activating the magic circle was slightly complex. As the spell continued, the magical elements in the air slowly flowed into the magic circle. Under the activation of the Mage's Mental Power, it flashed brightly before returning to calm. Any large creature passing through this barrier would trigger an alarm and emit a piercing sound.

"We need to scatter more here," Jialan told the soldiers responsible for the watch. "The Mana fluctuations in this area are quite chaotic and might affect the barrier's effectiveness."

The soldiers highly respected Jialan's guidance. They knew that in the Misty Forest, these magical warning facilities could save their lives.

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

"Good evening, Mage Jialan," Anna said with a smile. Her voice was soft, carrying a warm power.

"Good evening," Jialan said, somewhat surprised. "It's so late, aren't you resting yet?"

Anna shook her head. "Seeing you were still busy, I wanted to see if there was anything I could help with."

Jialan noticed Anna looked a little tired, clearly indicating that the day's work had not been easy. "You should get more rest," he said. "There might be even more you need to do tomorrow."

Anna smiled. "You're right. But I think we should communicate more."

Jialan nodded. He knew Anna was right. On the battlefield, the coordination between Spellcasters and Priests could often yield unexpected results.

The two walked side-by-side towards the bonfire in the center of the camp. The Misty Forest at night was exceptionally quiet, with only the crackling of the bonfire and the occasional hoot of an owl in the distance.

They talked for a long time, from their respective magical studies to their expectations and worries about the current operation. Jialan found that Anna was not only an excellent Priest but also possessed a deep understanding of magic.