“…trust in your bravery and strength as we join together as one to protect our homeland. Crispin, fifth Guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild of Harvand.”

Hector’s words echoed slightly off the tall walls of the surrounding buildings, then the training yard fell deathly quiet.

Edwin’s eyes were still locked on the Chaptermaster, but his mind was elsewhere. Mages going to war? Against their own people, no less? Not even in his worst nightmares could he have imagined this. It was a catastrophe, a disaster, a calamity – none of these words properly encompassed the sheer weight of what he had just been told. A mere week ago, on a day that had felt like any other, the world had changed so fundamentally that it would never be the same again. Even if they won the war and tried to get back to normal, there were things that, once broken, couldn’t be put back together again. The non-violent position of the College had been cultivated over the course of centuries, and only because it had been policed brutally had it survived until now. Once the mages had fought on the battlefield and used their powers to kill men in increasingly gruesome and effective ways, they would be much less impressed by the threat of the Inquisition when the black robes tried to corral them back into their peaceful life. All the topics that wouldn’t have even been brought up by anyone other than drunk students in smoky bars before would suddenly be discussed openly, be that the further study in combat magic ‘just in case’, the permanent creation of a war magic faculty, or even a complete overhaul of the Laws on Magic. What would the future look like? He had no idea.

“Edwin.”

He had thought that he would be able to freely pick and choose the person he wanted to become while everything remained as it had been, that he would be turning an immobile world in his hands as he found ever new angles to behold it from. What a foolish notion. That things had remained largely the same for even the fifty years he had spent underground was a small miracle.

“Edwin.”

Then again, he had the ability to become anyone he wanted to be. If the world changed, he could change with it. His original idea might have been unrealistic, but in a way, the Immortalizer made him the only person in the world who didn’t have to worry about the changing times. If life became unpleasant or even just boring, he could simply die and be reborn as one who fit in better. Maybe he could even try affecting change himself if it became truly unbearable. He hadn’t planned to be anything but a normal person, but his time as Edwin had shown him that even without his magic, he wasn’t powerless. Even perfectly regular humans frequently had a profound impact on the lives of those around them, and the products of the Immortalizer were far from regular. Yes, maybe this wasn’t as much of a disaster as he had thought…

“Edwin!” Somebody shook his arm. A tearing sensation lanced through his brain as Edwin’s and Walter’s minds separated much more reluctantly than ever before, leaving him reeling and dizzy for a few seconds while his mind adjusted to reality again.

The yard was a chaotic mess, adventurers shouting over one another to the point where he could barely make out any words. Salissa was gripping his elbow, looking up at him with fear and uncertainty. She always looked young to him, too young to be fighting anyone, really, but right now she seemed like nothing more than a frightened child.

“Don’t worry,” Edwin said, patting her hand reassuringly. “Things will change, but we will be fine.”

She didn’t seem convinced, but some of the fear on her face dissipated as she regarded his easygoing smile, despite the fact that only moments ago he had been on the verge of panic himself. He wanted to say more, but a shrill whistle tore through the hubbub, silencing most of the shouting. On the stage, Deputy Ildre had stepped up to the front and was staring down at the assembled adventurers. The hawkish woman had neither Edwin’s height, nor his size or strength, but she had a presence about her that could not be ignored. Looking down at them from the stage, her glare of disapproval cowed even the most hardened veterans as if they were unruly children.

“I understand your frustration,” the Chaptermaster continued, his voice level as if he hadn’t been interrupted in the first place. “This development catches all of us unawares, and it does mean a fundamental change in our lives. I ask that you not dwell on how this affects you personally but focus instead on the reason why the duke and Guildmaster have come to this decision. For the first time since we defeated the Volarki is the duchy facing a real threat to our survival. If we fail to hold back the Marradi now, Harvand will cease to exist. None of us chose to fight in a war, but neither did the thousands of regular people who were drafted into the army during the last month. Nor did the soldiers themselves ever dream of a day when they would be called to stand against magic.”

Hector paused just long enough for the words to sink in but continued before his audience had time to interrupt again.

“Although we are now officially part of the army and are placed under their command, the agreement negotiated by our Guildmaster calls for an adventurer to act as an advisor to our military superiors. Normally, I would take that role myself, as the other Chaptermasters are doing all across the duchy. Sadly, this is not possible. Master Crispin himself will be leaving his usual duties behind to act as the advisor to the duke, marching with the third division out of Pel Harvand. His deputy will be able to take over leadership of the capital chapter, but the duties of the Guildmaster must be taken over by the second-ranked member of our guild, which is historically the Chaptermaster of Pel Darni.

“As I will be departing for Pel Harvand within the week, a firm and experienced hand will be required to lead those few that remain through the trying times ahead. The only reason why I can leave with peace of mind is that I have complete faith in the competence of my deputy, Ildre. Under her leadership, I have no doubt that we will guarantee the protection of those that rely on us despite the hardships we now face. But that leaves me with a conundrum. With both me and Ildre unavailable, one of you will need to step up and represent our interests toward your superiors in the field. While there are many highly experienced and competent adventurers in our ranks, there is one whose qualifications are unmatched. Bordan, if you please?”

As Bordan ascended the steps to the stage, a low rumble went through the crowd. Hector quickly continued before the unrest became contagious again.

“I am sure that many of you might be surprised at this appointment. Some of you might not even know Bordan, as he has only been with us a short while, and there are many of you who are more experienced in our craft. Let me remind you that this assignment is not about being the longest-serving adventurer or having slain the most beasts. We need someone who understands our strengths and our weaknesses and who can communicate them to the army leadership in a way that they comprehend. So, for those of you who haven’t met him, let me introduce you.

“Bordan became a recruit during the summer, although his training had to be cut short to send him and his teammates on assignment. After completing a series of requests near the edge of the Clawed Woods together with three other newly minted guildmembers, he took part in the destruction of the latest goblin nest, which we now know was the largest and most dangerous of its kind in decades. During the cleanup operations afterward, his party found and cleared a goblin-held Pioneer ruin that contained an as-yet-undiscovered city shield. Bordan may not have been with us a long time, but he has already faced his share of challenges, having overcome them one and all, so he understands how we operate. What brought him to my attention is not his exemplary service in the guild, however.

“Before he found his way to our doors, Bordan served as a soldier in the third division for twenty years, finishing his service with high honors in one of the most elite units of our armed forces. He has seen plenty of combat, he understands how the military operates and what does and does not work on the battlefield. This alone makes him the ideal go-between, but that is not all. I am sure that all of you have heard the rumors that a mage has recently joined our ranks. They are true. That mage has been part of Bordan’s party since the beginning, which makes him the only man alive who has experience in tactically utilizing magic in combat. It will be a challenge for everyone to adapt to a new reality where mages stand on the battlefield, but I believe that Bordan’s knowledge and experience will provide us with a real advantage. For us adventurers, nothing is as important as getting the job done, and Bordan is without a doubt the perfect person for the job.”

Hector finished, and this time nobody started shouting. The low mumbling of quiet conversations filled the yard but compared to the threatening drone of anger and disapproval, it was benign. During the speech, Edwin had watched Bordan with growing amusement. While his teammate had weathered the deluge of praise with a ramrod-straight back and stoic expression, Edwin could only imagine how embarrassed and flustered the usually humble man must have felt on the inside.

“See?” Edwin said, turning to Salissa and Leodin whose faces were filled with a wild mixture of emotions. “We’re going to fight and Bordan’s in charge. Nothing really changes after all.”