Tucker stared at the gothic interior stone designs in awe. No matter how many times he walked down these halls, the designs never failed to amaze him. Over time, each brick had weathered and aged, adding a sense of history to the building. The high ceilings held up by countless arches gave the impression of walking through a grand cathedral. With each step echoing through the hall. The only source of light was the bright ember glows from the magic lanterns embedded into the pillars. If not for those, the entire area would be pitch black with no natural lighting.

  Soon, Tucker and Alex reached a pair of grand doors with two heavily armored guards on each side. Their obsidian-scaled armor and dragon-shaped helmets matched their intimidating presence. They stood still and gazed at Salamander. The verdant capes draped over their shoulders seemed to flutter for a moment as they held onto their black iron spears etched with glowing runes. They weren’t the Nightfall Rangers that Tucker knew about, but from one look, he could tell they were elite soldiers tasked with safeguarding the Order’s headquarters.

  “You think they’ll let us in?” Tucker whispered.

  “Probably not. If they’re standing guard, then the situation is far more grave than we could imagine,” Alex replied.

  “So… I guess we weren’t the only ones reporting to the administrators?”

  “Afraid not. If the Head Administrator’s guards are here, then that means all the administrators from different branches are present as well.” Alex took his hands out of his pockets and held them to his side. “Just make sure your hands are visible to them.”

  “Huh? Why?”

  “Cause they’ll bash your teeth in if you don’t.”

  Tucker immediately held both hands in the air and slowly moved behind Alex. “Alright, say no more.”

  “Ha…” Alex closed his eyes and rubbed them with a heavy heart. “Just try not to make a scene.”

  They stood before the steel doors with engravings of two cloaked figures facing each other in the middle of a forest. The guards tapped their spears on the ground and in an instant, both of the watchmen felt an overwhelming pressure press down on their bodies. Tucker’s body trembled as he fought back and tried to keep his head up. While Alex stood still, unfazed by the sudden display of force. He adjusted his hat and let out a dry cough.

  Soon, the guards tapped their weapons once more. Their expressions were hidden by their helmets, but from a glance, Tucker could tell they were smirking beneath their visors. He curiously watched as the guard on their right turned to Alex, who was gently patting his shoulders.

  “Salamander,” the guard’s cold voice resounded through the halls. “The administrators are in a session. No interruptions are permitted unless requested or of grave importance.”

  Alex met the sentinel’s icy gazes. “Is their current matter regarding the Empire?”

  Neither of them responded. Instead, one of them raised their hand, cladding it in a green aura and tapped onto the steel door once. Sending a powerful burst of aura through its surface as a loud thud erupted through the hallway. The ripple of energy hummed for a moment before dissipating. A few moments later, the door slowly creaked open, the low groan of the ancient hinges giving way to the grand chamber within. Revealing several tables along the perimeter of the room, each marked by a banner representing an administrator’s region.

  As they entered, Tucker trailed behind Alex and nervously kept his head lowered to avoid eye contact with the Administrators. It was his first time being in the presence of this many influential figures and, truth be told, he didn’t know how to act. He could feel their piercing gazes, examining every inch of him for a sign of weakness. Yet, despite his discomfort, Alex marched forward as if he’d seen worse.

  In the center of the room, unhidden by the shadows, was the solitary figure of a bald-headed man with a large scar down his eye and across his forehead. His tanned skin and black eyes stared into his soul, and the pressure was suffocating. Yet despite his muscular build and intimidating appearance, he cracked a warm smile at the two watchmen.

  “Salamander, I’m glad to see you have arrived in one piece. We feared the worst when we received the pouches your mist hawk delivered,” the Head Administrator calmly said.

  “Well, I’ve been through worse, but luckily, I had a competent teammate supporting me.” Alex jerked his thumb over his shoulders at Tucker, who was hiding behind him. “He’s a bit rough around the edges, but he gets the job done… sometimes, that is.”

  “Sometimes?” Tucker whispered but soon felt a sharp pain in his shin as Alex kicked him.

  A chuckle passed through the Administrators. Tucker raised his head and noticed the high-ranking members of the Order staring at him before lowering his gaze.

  The Head Administrator nodded his head in amusement. “That’s the first time I’ve seen you not call a rookie an idiot in front of us.”

  Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I blame my old age. He definitely wasn’t as good as you guys and I know I called you folks all sorts of names.”

  “Happens with age, old friend.” The Head Administrator leaned back. “Now, I assume you didn’t come to us to reminisce about the past. What news do you bring to us?”

  “That’s right. We found the Empire’s supply depot near our side of the border and I’m certain there are more hidden just out of our reach.”

  “Ah yes, that’s what your greenhorn wrote in his report.” The Head Administrator held a stack of papers in his hand. “A bit too extensive for what was found, but are you certain it’s the Empire doing, Salamander?”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “Sadly, I am. They even stationed several five-star knights in the region and a six-circle mage,” Alex added.

  The Administrators gasped while hearing the news. Their murmurs at the table were filled with discussions of worry and debate. Only brought to a sudden halt as the Head Administrator raised his hand, signaling for silence as he fell deep into thought. The ancient wooden chair creaked as he rested his elbows on the table. He could tell from the grave expressions of his colleagues that this matter had already escalated to a point of no return. Any last-second negotiation was now off the table. The stern sight of the veteran only confirmed his suspicions, and seeing how he was among the Order’s most trusted voices, there was no need for a follow-up investigation.

  Sensing the tense atmosphere, the Head Administrator finally asked, “Is there anything else to report, Salamander?”

  Alex nodded. “We obtained critical information in our pouches. Have they been delivered to the Order safely?”

  “Yes,” the Head Administrator replied. “We sent them to the scholar’s chambers to have them examined. Librarian Charles is handling it as we speak.”

  “Understood. That’s the end of my report. I have nothing else to say.” Alex saluted the Administrators and subtly stared back at Tucker, who quickly did the same.

  The Head Administrator’s gaze sharpened. “Remain within the keep and await further orders. We’re officially in the initial stages of war preparation.”

  Alex’s expression deepened, his eyes locked with the Administrator’s one last time before respectfully nodding. Without sparing a moment, he turned around and made his way to the exit. Tucker blankly stared at Alex, watching him move further towards the door and then at the Administrators. He quickly bowed before following suit. Just barely trailing behind the veteran as the steel doors swung open.

  Tucker listened as the steel doors soon sealed shut. The sound of the metallic rumbling finally ending as it reverberated through the stone corridor. Leaving behind a heavy thud like a hammer striking an anvil that shattered his lingering thoughts.

  They walked down the dim corridors in heavy silence. The weight of the Order’s decision loomed over them, and Tucker didn’t know what to do. He searched for answers, thinking about what to do next, but none came. To make such a cold and decisive decision like that on the spot felt unsettling.

  Would I be able to do the same?

  Tucker bit his lips while clenching his fists. He was overconfident and rash, but not heartless. He glanced at Alex, hoping for a flicker of doubt or hesitation. Yet none was there. Only a gaze that stared at the path ahead as if it held all the answers Tucker sought but couldn’t find.

  Alex glanced over his shoulder, noticing Tucker’s unease and stopped in place. “If there’s something on your mind, say it,” he said bluntly.

  “Is it that obvious?” Tucker asked, forcing a weak smile.

  “Yeah, you’re the type of idiot who constantly talks or does something. So it’s out of character for you to go a moment without saying anything.”

  Tucker quietly let out a strained laugh while staring at the ground. “I guess it’s just that I finally realized how inexperienced I am. I mean, you saw how they were back there. They weren’t even scared of going to war with the Empire. Yet here I am with these useless thoughts…”

  Alex examined the rookie before him and sighed. "That kind of composure is something that comes with experience. You don’t need to rush. You’ll naturally reach it with time.” He patted Tucker on the shoulder. “But more than that—you should understand that it’s not that they aren’t afraid. It’s that they can’t afford to be. They’re the ones leading us in the war, so any sign of weakness will have a greater impact on those that are following.”

  He stared at the rookie, who had just graduated from the academy and completed his training. Tucker was no more than eighteen years old. It was understandable for him to be hesitant and even afraid, but finding the cause was far more important.

  “What exactly troubles you? Alex asked.

  The air felt far colder than it did before. Tucker could feel the blood drain from his face as he stared at his hands. Memories flooding back from when they were in the forest and compound. His gloves, stained with blood from the men he’d fought. Their faces of anguish were still vivid in his mind, one’s that he pushed to forget but couldn’t. With soldiers, it felt justifiable, with bandits even more so. But could he keep going if he had to carry out those orders against civilians? The question haunted him. He knew how the other watchmen were. They were veterans who followed orders to the bone. But for him, the very idea tangled his stomach.

  The watchmen he’d idolized as heroes felt like strangers now, and the ideals he’d clung to were beginning to feel like illusions.

  He glanced at Alex, the man who had sacrificed so much for the Order. The man who had never flinched when carrying out a mission. Tucker knew he should say something, but the words fought back. How could he voice his doubts to someone who had dedicated their entire life to a cause they believed in? It felt disrespectful.

  Noticing the rookie’s discomfort, Alex spoke in a calm tone, “You’re free to speak your mind.”

  The reassuring words from Alex caused Tucker to let out a tired sigh. He rubbed the back of his neck before shaking his head. “I’ll be honest... I’m not sure if being a watchman is for me anymore.”

  Alex raised a brow before subtly nodding. “With what you’ve been through recently, it’s understandable why you have your doubts.”

  “Yeah… and it’s not like I have much time to think about it either.” Tucker muttered, hesitating for a moment and before staring at the veteran. “Do you think I should stay as a watchman?”

  “Are you asking that question looking for a realistic answer or my personal opinion?” Alex asked.

  Tucker gave a weak smile. “A bit of both.”

  “Well, on paper, you’re fine, and in the field, you’ve held your own—except for the insubordination, but that’s typical for rookies. Especially for those who have personalities like yours.” Alex revealed a smirk before looking away from Tucker, motioning for him to follow before continuing down the hallway. “But I would say the main issue is your romanticized fantasy of the Order. You’ve built it into something that it’s not. If you can leave that behind, then you should stay.”

  “And if I can’t?” Tucker asked.

  “You’re smart enough to know the answer to that,” Alex replied, glancing over his shoulder. “You just need to come to terms with it.”

  Tucker fiddled with the coin in his pocket, knowing that Alex was right. He’d idolized the Order his entire life, reading about the stories of famous watchmen and their heroism. Even now, he wanted to believe in those stories, but reality was often far more complicated. The thought that maybe he’d never come to terms with it disturbed him. But after hearing Alex’s words, maybe it was possible.

  “Besides, you don’t have to rush to make a decision.” Alex stared at the scholar chambers a few meters in front of them and smirked. “If fieldwork doesn’t suit you, then there are plenty of other ways to serve besides going on missions.”

  Tucker kept his head down with a heavy heart. “But I don’t know if I’m meant for any of this. I don’t know if I have it in me to follow orders like the other watchmen. I don’t know if I can force myself to take innocent lives.”

  “And you won’t need to.” Alex’s voice carried a profound weight that was far more stern than before. “The Order has changed since then. Each of us has the right to draw a line—a point that we won’t cross. No matter the circumstances. The same applies to you.”

  “But what if that line gets in the way of the mission? What should I do?”

  Alex stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder. “That’s for you to decide.”

  But, so far, it's not looking good cause the holiday season is around the corner, and I have written barely anything this week.

  That being said, I have decided to at least release five chapters this week from Tuesday to Saturday cause I'm feeling festive (that and I was on a roll last week).

  If I feel like the quality of writing drops, then I'll reduce the amount and polish my chapters.

  Also, Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Holidays!

  If you're enjoying the story so far, it would mean a lot to me if you could follow, favorite, or leave a review!