The academy reacted with panic when they found the bodies. The faculty called it a "demon incursion from the mountains." No one mentioned Harvesters or fragments.
General Theron Gilverc demanded a full military investigation. He didn't get one. Headmaster Corvin quietly buried the incident, as he had buried so many before.
Elara Moss recovered slowly. Her fragment had been damaged during her escape—it flickered in and out, sometimes granting her power, sometimes leaving her helpless.
[Elara Moss – Order Fragment 09. Status: unstable. Recommend low-stress environment.]
Tobin rarely left her side. They were the only family each other had left.
Varyan sat on the chapel roof, looking out at the mountains. The Forbidden Peak was visible on clear days—a dark spire shrouded in clouds.
Seris climbed up beside him.
"You're brooding," she said.
"I'm thinking."
"Same thing, with you."
He didn't smile. "The tall Harvester said 'next time I won't come alone.' He's been saying that for weeks. Eventually, he'll bring an army."
"Then we need an army of our own."
"We have three fragment-bearers, a merchant's daughter, and a retired headmaster. That's not an army."
Seris was quiet for a moment. "There are others. Fragment-bearers who are hiding, like we were. If we could find them, recruit them..."
"That takes time we don't have."
"Then we make time."
Varyan looked at her. Her mismatched eyes were fierce.
"You really believe we can win?"
"I believe we can survive. That's the same thing, with us."
He almost smiled. "You're quoting me."
"Someone has to. You make some good points, between the brooding."
[「ECHO」: Quest update – "Recruit Other Fragment-bearers" – Potential allies detected within 100 miles. Estimated 5-8 unaffiliated bearers.]
"Fine," Varyan said. "We'll try. But we need more than just numbers. We need a plan."
They spent the rest of the night planning. Lira provided maps of the surrounding region, marking villages and trade routes where fragment-bearers might hide. Seris contributed her knowledge of Harvester tactics. Tobin offered ideas about using speed for reconnaissance.
By dawn, they had a list of potential allies—six names, all bearing fragments, all last seen within a week's travel.
And they had a timeline: two weeks to recruit, two weeks to train, then an assault on the Forbidden Peak.
[Quest timeline set. Success probability: 31%.]
"Still not great odds," Var
yan muttered.
"Better than 17%," Seris said.
"Barely."