Near the Sanda mines stood a squat stone building—built decades ago for the miners to use during heavy snowfalls. Traveling home and back again was nearly impossible in such weather, so this place served as shelter until the storms passed.
For the sake of the upcoming dungeon raid, the building had been handed over to the army. It couldn't house everyone, of course—those who couldn't fit inside had set up camp under the covered entrance to the mines, safe from the snow.
Rowan's carriage pulled up to the site, wheels crunching over the frozen ground. One by one, they stepped out into the biting cold.
Evalyn scanned the area, her gaze landing on the squat structure.
"That was built for the miners?" she asked.
"Yeah," Sylvie replied. "Mining is Velhein's lifeline. Minerals from the mines are their main source of income."
At the building's entrance stood Captain Havier—one of the White Wolves' commanders, and a mage already well on his way to earning the title of Archmage.
"You don't look like you had a great time," Havier remarked.
"Oh, we had a wonderful time," Rowan said dryly.
"Anyway… wasn't Zikri with you?" Havier asked, glancing past them.
"He's not here," Rowan replied.
"Check the nearest whorehouse—you'll probably find him there," Evalyn said without hesitation.
Havier sighed. "Should we start the meeting without him, then?"
"Is Old Man Kruzen here?" Evalyn asked.
"He's waiting inside," Havier confirmed.
"What about your crew?" he asked her.
"I got a message from them today. They'll be here by tomorrow evening."
"Then let's get inside," Havier said, turning toward the door.
The others followed him in, boots leaving a trail of snow on the threshold. The wind howled behind them, rattling the door as it shut—sealing them in with the warmth, the scent of burning wood… and the plans that would decide the fate of this raid.
Captain Havier led the way, his boots thudding against the wooden floor. They passed a few soldiers hunched over maps and supply lists, the scent of burning firewood clinging to the air.
At the end of the hall, Havier pushed open a door.
They stepped into a smaller side room, where the air was warmer and the scent of old parchment hung faintly in the air.
At the far side, Archmage Kruzen sat waiting, his arms folded, his sharp eyes following them as they entered.
"Yo, old man," Evalyn said casually.
Kruzen didn't respond.
They gathered around a round table at the center of the room.
"Shall we begin the briefing?" Havier asked.
"Sylvie, you're up," Evalyn said.
Sylvie unrolled a large sheet of paper across the table, smoothing it out with both hands.
"We've divided the army into six teams," she began. "Each guild has been assigned its own unit, and the volunteers have been distributed evenly based on rank.
"On the first day, Team One will take the first floor. On the second day, Teams Two and Three will move to secure the second floor. On the third day, Teams One, Four, and Five will push to capture the third floor.
"Once we have control of the third floor, all forces will regroup there with Team Six, which will be leading the assault on the mother base."
The plan earned nods from those around the table. Sylvie continued.
"Six commanders—including Commander Rowan and Zikri—will remain outside the dungeon to stand guard."
Rowan's brow furrowed. "Why is that?"
Sylvie glanced toward Evalyn.
Evalyn placed both hands firmly on the table before speaking.
"I got a message earlier from the extraction team. They were attacked… by dragon raiders."
Havier's expression tightened. "Dragon raiders? The only place you can find dragons is in the middle of Death Valley—and raiding them is a lost method of travel. Yet they knew how to do it?"
Evalyn nodded. "Exactly."
"Still… commanders? Isn't that a bit much?" Rowan asked.
Evalyn drew in a deep breath. "One of them injured Kaizer. Badly."
The air in the room shifted instantly—tension coiling like a drawn bowstring.
"And he used dark magic."
That drew visible reactions from everyone except Evalyn and Sylvie. Unease settled over the group like a cold weight.
Kruzen leaned forward. "Are you certain it was dark magic?"
Evalyn nodded once.
The archmage ran a hand slowly through his beard. "How…?" he muttered under his breath.
"We'll meet with the expedition team tomorrow when they arrive," Rowan said, breaking the silence.
One by one, the others nodded.
"Alright. Tomorrow, then." Rowan turned and left with his assistant. Havier and his own aide followed soon after.
Once the door shut, Kruzen looked to Evalyn. "Is everyone still alive?"
"That's what they said," Evalyn replied. "We'll know for sure tomorrow."
A quiet moment passed.
"Goodnight, old man," Evalyn said at last, before leaving with Sylvie.
"Where's my room, Sylvie?" Evalyn asked, dragging her feet across the hallway.
"Follow me," Sylvie said, already heading down the corridor.
"Argh… I'm beat. Can't wait to get into bed," Evalyn muttered under her breath.
"What about dinner?" Sylvie asked.
"I don't care."
"You haven't eaten all day."
"Don't wake me up unless the world ends—or the team comes back."
Sylvie raised an eyebrow. "What's the point of waking you if the world ends?"
"Don't ask me questions," Evalyn grumbled.
They finally reached the fourth floor. Sylvie stopped in front of a door.
"This is it," she said.
"Yeah? Off you go, then." Evalyn managed a half-wave before slipping inside.
"Goodnight, Sylvie."
The door clicked shut, and without so much as taking off her boots, Evalyn went straight to sleep.