The atmosphere in the fortress had been strange lately. Everyone had fallen into a kind of blind tension. Perhaps it was because General Yusuf had raised the alert level, but Pei Geduo preferred to believe it was due to the dreadful signals brought back by the rangers.
They refused to carry out any more "suicidal" reconnaissance missions. Things had reached the brink of mutiny, and Yusuf agreed to their request.
During their last large-scale reconnaissance, they confirmed something Yusuf had long feared—the Ork tribes seemed to have achieved Unity and were gathering in this direction.
The weather remained clear, yet invisible storm clouds hung over the entire defensive line.
Pei Geduo dusted off his robe and stepped out of the meditation chamber. Incense lingered briefly around him before the breeze swept it away. The surrounding soldiers nodded to him in greeting.
He returned their greetings as he headed toward another meditation chamber. Pei Geduo intended to visit Kaman, the only other Crow School Wizard in the fortress besides himself.
Kaman was one of the volunteers sent by the Three Witches Society and an acquaintance of his. Though they had different mentors, they had both trained in Whispering Forest, making them fellow students in a sense. Wizards still retained their ancient methods of education, with mentors leading their disciples into hidden places to train. There were nine such places across the Imperium.
Pei Geduo stood outside the meditation chamber door, sensing the rising tide of Hanan through the thick wooden door.
Any Wizard was immensely vulnerable and dangerous while meditating. No matter the reason, they should never be disturbed. That had been the first lesson Pei Geduo learned as a Wizard apprentice.
Taking out his pocket watch, Pei Geduo estimated the time. They had begun at the same time, so they