“After Action Report: First Skirmish of the Mistveil - Carradorian defeat but heavy losses inflicted.

Tactical Casualties: 2 Half Strength Carradorian Irregular Regiments, 1 Platoon of House Walden’s Rangers, 2 Detachments of Levy Militia, 3 Border Fort Garrisons, Eichafen City Militia and other township guards

Total Losses: 5,500+ Estimated Troops Lost; Unknown Civilian Losses

Strategic Losses: Eichafen, Fortress Northveil, Fortress Fogwatch, Fortress Mistmourn, 20+ Local Villages and Towns

Personnel Losses: Major Tolstein and Command Staff - Lost when Bastion Command in Eichafen was overrun by Undead alongside the city.

Conclusion: Loss of Northwestern Salient inevitable, Bastion Force Mistveil depleted. Undead activity hampering supply lines. Situation deteriorating, potential Meltonian thrust towards capital.

Recommendation: New defensive line across the King’s Highway. Urgent reinforcements required to stabilise the line. More Rangers to quell undead threat. ”

- Acting Major Baylein, Emergency Commander of Bastion Force Mistveil, Report to Grand Duke Walden - Feldmarschall of Northern Carrador

Sophie breathed a sigh of relief when they finally ascended the western edge of the basin and out into Melton. Harweald had been an interesting time but one that she sorely wished to avoid in the future. Still she did manage to get a bearing on how to move forward in Melisgrad and with Taurox increasingly concerned about the cult and the Lionhunt, there was a chance they would depart a month early to avoid complications. When he joined the rest he had shared with the others and confirmed her own suspicions when he too spoke about how the hunters had not seemed surprised by the cult or the presence of the orcs. Meaning that they already knew about them or worse, were actually working together given how their search parties conveniently avoided the farmstead.

It was a grim possibility indeed if the two powers worked together and it was enough to spur Annalise to agree with their plans after sharing some private moments with Kimmie to say goodbye. The two parted amicably, as far as Sophie could tell, with promises of return after the ranger’s journey to Arteria. Just as Sophie still sported the little ribbon given to her by the ranger to tie her ponytail, Anna now had a little bow with a striking red ribbon of her own from the barmaid. It was an endearing little moment when the two parted and though she felt a pang of jealousy at how taken her friend was by another, she also couldn’t stop the warm feelings of joy overwhelming her.

The inquisitors on the other hand had been all the more dour since their time at Harweald, their jobs made more complicated by the Lionhunt sniffing around. Mila too had swapped out her scowl for a more broody and angsty look after Sophie had explained everything to her. Of the monsters, of the city, the people, and the towers of her nightmares. The girl’s expression had dropped the precise moment that Sophie recounted the little demon abominations swarming the streets, as if she had been expecting something and was let down. When she had wrapped up, Mila wordlessly dismissed her before sulking back to the other inquisitors and Sophie worried that she had gone into too much detail. But with how she had just retreated, Sophie couldn't do anything about it and turned her thoughts to other things.

Distracting herself with different fantasies, she tried imagining what she would discover in the archives of Melisgrad, new books, old books, scrolls, and all manner of unexpected texts awaited her. The world too likely changed in her time spent in Eichafen and Hareweald, if anything noteworthy happened news would likely be first spread in the capital, maybe even news Arteria and by extension Eva. Perhaps even a new edition of Gunmar and Aurelia might’ve come out, she giggled at the silly thought and accidentally squeezed Anna’s waist a little too hard earning herself a light rapt on the head.

“Nugh!” She squeaked.

“Don’t choke me out, I’m having a hard enough time keeping him calm without you flailing about.” Annalise grinned as she gave the horse a light pat. The mount huffing proudly in response.

At the accusation Sophie flashed a sheepish grin before resting her head against the ranger's back, managing to briefly revel in the cheerier mood shared between the two compared to the chaos that comprised of the prior days. Though Annalise was still a tad dour at the sudden departure, at the end of the day she rode on with a sense of understanding that she now had someone to look return to.

Sophie turned her attention at the two inquisitors and templar traveling with them which when adding the adventurer and herself brought the party number up to five. It almost made her feel like she was part of an adventuring team again. The awkward tagalong sure, but a part of something greater nonetheless.

It was late afternoon when they finally left the last vestiges of the old forest and Mistveil behind them. Beyond the motley party lay what Meltonians termed the Wind-Blessed Woods. Though in her eyes compared to the thick brush, fog, creepy effigies and strange villages, the sparse bundles of trees hiding amidst countless tracts of golden farmland felt less like a forest and more like little curated gardens. One thing she couldn’t argue with though was the first half of their naming convention, seeing the sea of crops swaying to the gentle gusts of wind as they ran across the fields, spreading massive ripples that rolled through the fields brought a warm feeling to her heart. Small mercies in trying times.

They had forced marched their way through the woods until they reached a small copse of trees. A blot of shade from the sun above and the farmlands around them, Taurox had led the party to pause for a brief respite in anticipation of the the journey ahead. While the other three got around to setting up a small campsite, Taurox gave Sophie a knowing look and she screamed internally. No! I refuse to train while injured! She wanted to yell at him, but meeting the minotaur’s steely gaze, she relented and went to grab her sabre.

“Your technique clearly needs work given how quickly you were overcome in the last fight.” Taurox said, “And judging by how you are injured, now might as well be a good time to have you adapt to fighting ambidextrously.”

Sophie gawked as she thought of swinging as freely as she does with her left hand and shook her head, no way I can do that. But when she looked up, she could see the almost evil grin on his face, his axe drawing a circle on the ground.

“I sense doubt within you, but time waits for no one young elf, now get in this circle and let’s start with a few warmups. The less you know the quicker you die and I don't intend to have you die anytime soon.”

She looked helplessly back at her other companions hoping for someone to protest on her behalf, only to find that they cared not in the least that she got dragged off to training. She almost groaned until she realised the blademaster was within earshot. This sucks, why’s it always me?

Through the inquisition’s generosity, Sergeant Wilde and Taurox had acquired a new tunic, pants and a small leather chest piece for her when they arrived at the tavern early in the morning. Through the blademaster’s generosity, Taurox had immediately ruined them by taking her to train so intensely that she sweated until she swore she had no more liquids within her. I just freshened up this morn and now I smell like dirt, sweat and blood again.

He had forced her to drop into a series of battle stances before running quick laps around the trees, her legs growing weary from exertion and her travel sickness slowly wormed its way back into existence with each step. Before she could properly tap out with a much needed vomit he had begun instructing her on sword styles and different ways she could parry, riposte and feint with her off hand. Though she did notice the way in which he always had her arms swing a little wide for extra power or energy on the defence. When she pointed out that it would leave her a little more vulnerable he just looked at her with a frown before saying something that broke her spirit.

“You’re too weak to fight normally, young elf.”

Completely deadpan and stated matter of factly, Sophie had felt her ears flare up in embarrassment and bristled at the comment, I’ll show you.

“Steady, steady on your feet.” Taurox grunted, “Back and forward, quickly now!”

Sophie ignored the growing fatigue and did the manoeuvre as ordered, hopping to the edge of the circle and just as her feet touched the ground she leapt back towards the center, sabre outstretched. The quick motion caught her off guard and she wobbled slightly and crossed her legs to quickly spin 180 degrees to reorientate herself to the side of the center instead of head on.

“Good! Remember that opponents like the traitor are far more powerful than you and don’t let your guard down. Incoming!” He growled.

She stuck one leg out to anchor herself and turned in the blademaster’s direction, pushing herself out of the way just as his blade cut just right where her head was, the whoosh of his blade landing just close enough for her to feel it. Scary.

Angling her arm slightly outward she threw an attack using her sabre’s guard to knock the blade master’s sword aside before doing a quick half lunge in his direction. With predictable skill he jumped backwards and Sophie found herself staring at the axe now coming at her instead. In a small panic she stepped a little too far sideways and almost collapsed on the ground but thankfully steadied herself just in time. Yet she found herself unable to respond effectively to the next strike and had to dodge once more. So close the axe had cut that she felt a stray long hair or two suddenly get trimmed.

“Guh!” She yelped as it passed by.

“React with caution, your opponent is far more skilled.”

Think fast! Without seeing another option she launched a hasty attack at Taurox. As predicted the blademaster effortlessly blocked the strike but it allowed her a short window to recover where she danced back to the center of the circle with a jump. Dang it what now?! Uncertainty filled her and she committed to the attack, launching another volley of jabs at the blademaster only for him to block these too. Exhausted, she tried to pull back only to be met with another close call as he lunged forward. Deciding to meet his charge she tried to shoulder check his axe as it swung past.

She winced from the pain of launching herself against it with her injured arm before he proceeded to forcefully push her away with the axe. A non-fatal blow that if perhaps her opponent was a human would’ve only meant they were at a disadvantage. But against a minotaur bristling with muscles, power and strength, she found herself easily thrown to the floor, landing in an undignified heap as she scrambled to recover only for the minotaur to stand over her.

“Not quite.” He spoke and Sophie sighed, bracing herself for another lecture, “Bit slow on the recovery, could improve your footwork when trying to create distance. Good use of your speed advantage, but you got greedy and rushed your last attack. Brute force is above your current combat purview, in time you will learn how to best apply strength, but with your main hand still slightly injured, focus on dodging, light attacks and parries.” He nodded thoughtfully, “Reflect on your techniques and practice them, then go over what you think you failed and practice that too.” He finished with a huff.

Sophie was surprised and looked up warily when he held out a meaty hand to help her back up. No other words? No message about trusting your opponent in a fight? Sophie decided to question her good fortune later and allowed herself to be lifted back up.

“At least you’re learning young elf, but don’t rest your laurels, there is still much to do as evidenced by how quickly the traitor bested you in combat. Now quickly go back to the others, eat your fill, we leave soon enough.”

Alarmed by this new information, she gave the inquisitor a small polite bow and rushed over to the others. Two rather tense and grueling hours finally over as she quickly started wolfing down all that she could, much to the amusement of the others.

The sun had begun waning by the time she also finished her meal, the others already packed up by the time her training had finished and waited for Taurox and her to finish the last bites of their cold meals. She had wiped down here bowl when she took a good look at the campsite, above her, birds chirped peaceful melodies under an orange sky, the flocks returning to their nests for the coming evening. Around, the snaps and crackles across the floor indicated numerous other creatures wandering around in the fields, the occasional moo's bleats and cries of farm animals added an almost surreal accompaniment to the birdsong. Despite wishing to embrace the relaxing nature of their current location and letting the food settle in her stomach, she also didn't want to be a burden and Sophie reluctantly pushed herself forward. As she climbed on with Annalise and the party begun traveling, she took one last look at the sights around her to etch it in her mind as they left. Another step closer to answers and to Eva.