FIRST ORDER

The morning sun beamed brightly over Lumisgrave, casting a golden shimmer across the courtyard of the Mythic Base. The breakfast table, still buzzing with playful chatter and teasing from earlier, slowly emptied as the Mythic-ranked knights wiped their mouths, stretched their arms, and looked toward the broad training ground ahead.

Maelis Kyrn, ever energetic and ready to move, turned to Arslan with her auburn curls bouncing slightly. "So, Commander Arslan," she grinned, hands on her hips. "What punishment are you giving us today?"

Arslan chuckled, adjusting the gauntlet on his arm. "Today isn't punishment, Maelis. It's physical day. Everyone to the track. Let's build that endurance."

A collective groan spread across the group, but with grins stretching across tired faces. Tharion gave a friendly shove to Vaelith, and Elyra nudged Yuna with a knowing smile.

The courtyard echoed with the steady rhythm of synchronized footsteps as they jogged. Ravik's heavy boots thudded in beat with Nirela's light-footed strides. Elyra, surprisingly quick, moved in a blur around the edges. Arslan remained at the center, his dark hoodie flaring lightly with each breath of wind, his presence calm but powerful.

Suddenly, the training ground fell into a curious silence. The armored steps of a Royal Capital guard approached. A special emissary, clad in the silver-blue insignia of the capital, stepped through the gate holding a rolled scroll sealed with the King's crest.

"Mythics!" the guard announced, voice firm.

Everyone paused and turned. The guard unrolled the scroll with a crisp snap. "By order of His Majesty, the following Mythic-ranked members are hereby summoned for a scouting operation near the Demon Site located at the Iron Mine District. Names: Tarric Vohl, Ismere Daeva, and Vaelith Ren."

Gasps spread among the group.

The guard continued, "You will accompany Zenith-ranked Vira Lysaria and Apex-ranked Zayan Telrien. The objective is to scout and secure the site, recover any crystal formations or strange materials, and report any threats. Departure is scheduled at this afternoon bell. That is all."

He saluted briefly, turned on heel, and strode away.

Tarric blinked. "Wait... just us?"

Vaelith scratched his head, his healing gauntlets glowing faintly. "I… I wasn't expecting field work so soon."

Ismere folded her arms, her violet eyes narrowing. "Why only us? This feels... targeted."

Arslan stepped forward. The sunlight glinted off his dark shoulder armor as he placed a hand on Vaelith's shoulder. "You three were chosen because you can adapt. You work well together. But more than that..."

He looked each of them in the eye.

"This is a test. Stay calm. If anything feels off, don't push forward blindly. Stick together. Don't let distance separate you. And if you're cornered... use the combination skill you've been practicing."

Ismere's serious expression softened slightly. "You mean Phantom Ward Fusion?"

Arslan nodded. "Exactly. Phantom Rift for evasiveness, Thunderstep to break zones, and Life Pulse to recover and shield. It's a good combo."

Tarric gave a low whistle. "Guess this is really happening."

The three nodded and went back to training, now focusing on syncing their combo. The others joined them, offering advice and sparring. The courtyard came alive again with the sound of blades slicing through air, shoes scuffing stone, and the subtle hum of magic techniques being summoned.

Seris Vahla trained toxin strikes against Elyra's emotional freeze field. Milo practiced kinetic dives with Zhalya, dodging her blood sight attacks. Caelis and Malrik compared rune-imbued strikes.

Near the far edge, Arslan focused on mastering his speed. He dashed across stone markers laid out across the yard, vanishing and appearing with bursts of black mist.

Thoom! His boots slammed against the last marker as he reappeared, panting.

"Getting faster," Kar'Thael whispered inside his mind.

Arslan wiped sweat from his brow. "I want to be fast enough to strike before they can even move."

"Then double your weight during sprints. Your legs need punishment, not praise."

He grinned faintly and added training weights to his calves and arms. The others stared as Arslan blurred once more, leaving behind shockwaves.

Just before lunch, the group returned to the base. The bell rang across the upper courtyard, echoing softly through the barracks.

In Arslan's room, a quiet wind rustled the curtains. He sat at the edge of his bed, towel slung around his neck, when Kar'Thael's voice entered his thoughts like a ripple in still water.

"That guard... he wasn't just delivering news. The King's sending out scouts far too early."

Arslan frowned. "You think it's a mistake?"

"No. It's desperation. The sites worry him. He knows the stakes, but he doesn't know the truth. We don't know what lies inside these sites yet. The crystals, the runes... there are clues, but no certainty."

Arslan leaned back. "They need answers quickly. If these sites are spreading... we could lose control."

Kar'Thael was silent for a moment. Then: "You should be with them. Watching. But the King wants to test others now. Fine. Let them show their worth. We need all of them strong if the storm's really coming."

Arslan nodded solemnly. "Then let's hope today brings only knowledge... and not another war."

As the bell for noon tolled, and the trio of Mythics prepared their equipment in silence, the sky above Lumisgrave slowly clouded over, as if even the heavens held their breath.

The true nature of the demon sites was still a mystery. But time was running out.