But he was also training with them under Lieutenant Gol Furbuw who oversaw the progress, evaluated performance, and stepped in during critical moments to impart wisdom, or establish authority.

  General Vaelros often gave them only the hellish regimen he prepared per rank or per team.

  He prepared these due to his commitment to forging the strongest army possible, and his no-nonsense approach to preparing his troops for the hardships of war.

  There were different regimens and levels they had to finish.

  Some were intended for shared drills, field exercises, discipline through example, mentorship and rivalry.

  Once done, they had final tests, if they were ready to move up even farther in the ranks.

  “Sergeant Demoir. And your father?” General Vaelros asked, his piercing gaze narrowed.

  "I thought you’d be by his side, guarding the queen and the children. Securing the White Starlight Palace and Faliamber is no trivial matter." General Vaelros added.

  Vaelros' voice carried both curiosity and a hint of reproach. He was concerned about the mission.

  Demoir shifted uneasily, his shoulders tensed under the general's scrutiny.

  "Ah... ahm, he..." Demoir hesitated, his voice faltered for a moment before he steeled himself.

  "Actually, I’ve observed something urgent, and I must bring it to your attention immediately!" Demoir finally uttered.

  “What would that be?” General Vaelros asked.

  “General, we’ve been at this for hours. The wizards are also continuously helping at the skies and giving us protection at the ground, but some of them disappeared suddenly like wisp of smoke.”

  Demoir revealed the truth. He had also seen the wizards were in shock of what happened to them due to their facial expressions.

  Some even resisted and used their powers, but nothing stopped them from disappearing.

  “Sergeant Demoir, they were summoned to the Floating Orb. They were commanded by the Divine Archmages.” General Vaelros replied shortly, still puzzled of what was happening.

  “The legendary home of the wizards!” Sergeant Demoir replied while his eyes sparkled, his voice was raised to a higher tone.

  He wanted to go there; it was often referred to as the ‘source.’

  These were information given to them during their studies and training as they got themselves familiar with the powerful wizards which protected them for centuries, and the magical powers that existed in Livingrings.

  The Rune Masters looked at each other worried after hearing the report of the sergeant.

  Dunesther then got closer near the sergeant and gestured to the general that he wanted to talk to him.

  “Sergeant Demoir, did you just say they vanished?” Dunesther demanded, his tone sharp with disbelief.

  “Yes, Sire! They’re nowhere to be found,” Demoir replied earnestly.

  “What troubles me most is that they were either engaged in conversation or locked in combat—and then, without warning, they simply vanished. Most of the apprentices were among them.” Sergeant Demoir answered honestly, while his eyes were locked sparkling towards the Rune Master.

  “I am grateful for your keen observation, Sergeant Demoir,” Dunesther said, his voice steady yet laced with immediacy.

  He inclined his head in thanks before striding back to his position beside his fellow Rune Master.

  The weight of the news pressed down heavily upon him.

  “Jenna, we are truly in a precarious situation. Ready yourself.” Dunesther said to her with a sharpened tone of foreboding.

  Nearby, General Vaelros watched like a sentinel.

  Though silent, he seemed to weigh the gravity of their words, calculating the scale of the threat unfolding before them.

  They had to obey the Divine Archmages order. Their reasons could be extreme and it could affect the whole Livingrings.

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  It was rare for them all to be summoned to the Floating Orb.

  The wizards of Livingrings were a tireless order, ever engaged in their work. They proceed from one task or mission. Then after it was finished, they started to the next one.

  They do their businesses with things around the Livingrings Kingdom without the need for the people to witness all that they were doing for it, whether for safety or prosperity.

  It was not easy to meet high ranking wizards, if a person was not of the highest standing like his father, General Hovereth, or General Vaelros.

  They were primarily called if there were enemy forces or other problems in the kingdom, where their expertise would be of further use.

  These wizards were good at fighting with their immense magical powers, so they were often seen meeting with the generals, Queen Aerathis, and King Thalorin Sealbearer.

  Jenna and Dunesther who were Rune Masters were not so far from the highest-ranking wizards, and often oversee the works of those in lower ranks.

  “General Vaelros, we shall see you safely to Callona.” Dunesther assured, his voice firm but with an undercurrent of concern.

  “And then, we shall depart to—” Dunesther faltered, unable to complete his sentence.

  A trembling wind passed and something so hot engulfed them, causing them to shield their faces instinctively.

  In a burst of blinding light, two Divine Archmages appeared, their arrival was announced by the acrid scent of ozone and the searing heat of flames in flickering shades of orange and red.

  The whole surrounding felt floating and disoriented with the intensity of their powers.

  The humans were also bathed in their sweat due to the physical and mental strain of the two powers used at the same time.

  One Divine Archmage, cloaked in robes of fiery crimson, had his hands held out, and flames danced from his fingertips.

  The second Divine Archmage was wrapped in robes of midnight blue.

  He moved with a fluid grace and with a flick of his wrist or staff, the fabric of reality itself seemed to ripple and tear, revealing glimpses of distant landscapes.

  The two who arrived were beside the Celestial Drakes of Dunesther and Jenna. The magical flames of the fire wizard was where they stood together as it moved with the Celestial Drakes in midair.

  The lights were still blinding and the fiery flames were still engulfing the area.

  “We have no time for that. It would take you hours to arrive in Callona even with the Celestial Drakes.

  Let’s use my teleportation magic to go there, take what’s needed, then we depart immediately to the palace in Faliamber.” Uther said to the two while his eyes were menacingly focused on something.

  Dunesther and Jenna worried more with Uther’s instructions.

  They could hear him while they were still covered with lights and did not fully materialize.

  Uther the Divine Archmage of Teleportation had eyes with layers of circular rune-like things, moving inside when his powers were activated.

  It was not known if these were the calculations for his teleportation distance or the weight his powers could carry to another place.

  These were extremely visible while he closely turned to the two.

  As the light faded, the figures of Uther and Zoho, the Teleportation and Fire Divine Archmages, materialized completely in midair and could be seen clearly by the humans.

  Their presence commanded immediate attention.

  “By the heavens! Uther and Zoho, the Divine Archmages!” Sergeant Demoir exclaimed, his voice was filled with awe and reverence.

  He could not believe his eyes—Uther and Zoho, stood before him. Eager to seize the moment, he urged his celestial drake closer, clutching a scroll.

  The thought of obtaining their signatures to proudly display at his home, and boast about to the other trainees filled him with giddy anticipation.

  But as he drew nearer, blinded by his enthusiasm, he failed to heed the gravity of their sudden appearance.

  These wizards did not manifest without grave purpose or dire tidings to share with the humans.

  General Vaelros perceived the sergeant's overzealous mistake and quickly intervened.

  “How about an—” Demoir was not able to finish what he had to say.

  “Sergeant!” General Vaelros' voice cut through the air with a stern voice and halted Demoir’s advance.

  The General’s eyes were fixed on the Divine Archmages, his expression was of respect and concern.

  “These wizards do not appear without grave purpose. Show them the honor they are due.” General Vaelros commanded.

  The drakes then circled gracefully.

  Demoir swallowed hard and his cheeks burnt red from embarrassment as the gravity of the situation sank in.

  He raised his hand to his chest in a gesture of respect, bowing his head deeply. The other soldiers followed suit knowing the gravity of the general’s command.

  The wizards sighed with understanding. They, too, were not exempt from the fallibility that plagued all beings. They knew Demoir through all the visuals from the secondary layers of the Auroras in the labyrinthine and maze-like dimensions during his training periods.

  As General Vaelros got near them.

  “General Vaelros we bear urgent tidings that demand your immediate attention.” Uther spoke heavily, but with a resonant voice filled with authority.”

  As the archmages began to speak, the soldiers listened intently.

  “General Vaelros! Take your children and the kings’ family with you. Leave this place at once. We had informed King Thalorin and General Hovereth of the reasons.

  Uther will take you out of the kingdom. The Kingdom of Livingrings is in grave danger.” Zoho, the fire wizard, directly ordered and looked at him.

  *Zoho - a Divine Archmage of Fires

  *Uther - a Divine Archmage of Teleportation