Vivian
Vivian came out of the gate breathing hard and more than a little excitable. Behind her, the echoes of Serenya’s voice faded as the group emerged one by one. Sophie, Elise, Emily, An-Mei, Elizabeth, and Marissa—each woman stepped out of the gate looking exhausted, each lost in her own thoughts. It felt like they had been inside forever, so much so that the transition back into the open air of the valley was disorienting. What greeted them upon their arrival was more than a little unsettling.
Night had fallen and was moonless, the stars strangely present and bright, like the universe was a bit more awake. The air was cold—much colder than it should have been for this time of year—and the camp and surroundings were quiet. Too quiet. Much quieter than a busy contingent of guards and mercenaries should be, considering the circumstances. The rest of the women in their party seemed just as disoriented as Vivian, excluding An-Mei, who simply looked bored. All around, the atmosphere felt heavy, and none of them had any sense of how much time had passed since they entered the gate.
Vivian blinked as her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She shifted a bit of mana to them to enhance her night vision—a handy little manipulation trick that was surprisingly delicate to pull off. Once her eyes adjusted, she watched as the Zhou guards rushed about, fortifying a sort of makeshift fortress centered around the gate’s exit. Very little smoke or light rose from the campfires or cooking apparatus. The entire atmosphere was muted, restrained—like the whole valley was holding its breath.
Something had changed; something was wrong.
Earthen berms and timber reinforcements stretched across the approach. Temporary wards spilling with mana shimmered faintly along the trenches, and rope bridges had been drawn back over the tripwire fire glyphs. From where she stood, Vivian could see the silhouettes of soldiers watching the tree line while others used stealth techniques to remain hidden in the trees themselves.
It looked like they were preparing for an attack.
Vivian’s gaze caught on two figures moving toward them through the half-dark. Chiron Zhou—a captain in the Zhou Family Guard—and one of his important subordinates, Leiden, were accompanied by a couple of guards and scouts assigned to the Zhou household detachment. The group kept raising their hands in sharp, silent gestures, flying back and forth like everyone was either spasming or dancing—both possibilities equally ridiculous.
At first, Vivian didn’t understand what she was seeing. Then she realized—nonverbal signals. The Zhou soldiers’ code. They had gone dark while waiting for them to return. That meant no speech, no lights, no sound that could carry.
That could only mean one thing.
As Chiron reached them, he dropped to one knee before Emily and Elise, his charges, exchanging brief glances of recognition. Then he rose, crossed to Vivian and Sophie, and bowed deeply. He spoke in a low whisper.
“Princess. Lady Li.”
They both nodded.
“Chiron,” Vivian said, her voice measured, “what’s happening right now?”
Chiron and Leiden exchanged a look. Then, quietly, “My lady… there’s a group of orcs near the valley rim in the open fields just beyond the trail to the descent. They’re moving this way.”
The women froze.
Sophie’s eyes narrowed. “That’s impossible. There’s been talk of orc movement near the southern waterways, yes—but nothing on the mainland, and certainly not this deep inland.”
Chiron’s expression didn’t change. “Oh, they’re there, Highness. We saw them with our own eyes—and they haven’t gone unnoticed.”
The women just stared at him, clearly unsure what he meant.
Chiron continued. “The intelligence from Solcarin must be better than we thought. A Solcarin rapid-response unit engaged the orcs yesterday after tracking them near the ridge. There was a battle. I witnessed it personally after hearing from the scouts. It did not end well. Two hundred and fifty cultivators—wiped out in minutes.”
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The night went still around them. Even the wind seemed to hesitate.
Vivian drew a slow breath, the weight of what he said settling like stone in her chest. Something terrible was coming—and whatever they had walked out of the gate into, it was no longer the world they had left behind.
“How is this possible?” Vivian asked quietly. “How are orcs roaming like cattle across Imperial territory?”
“They don't pay me enough to have an opinion, Lady Li,” Chiron replied. “But that isn’t even the worst part. There’s more. The orcs aren’t normal orcs. Their skin is red, and their eyes are black.”
Silence, heavy and absolute.
Emily spoke up. “Orcs… orcs aren’t red-skinned. Green, sometimes gray, but mostly green. What… what is a red orc?”
Vivian’s eyes narrowed. “High orcs. What you saw were high orcs.” She exhaled slowly. “There are a lot of names for them—demon-touched, blood-tainted, cursed.”
Her voice went very quiet. “But the most common title is ‘high orcs.’ They’ve mostly been rumors. Chiron, are you sure you saw what you think? I don’t remember the last time any orcs were seen on the mainland—let alone demon-touched or high orcs.”
Chiron gave her a sympathetic look. “Lady Li, we saw them with our own eyes. They’re maybe five leagues out—camped in the overpass right before the southern topside entrance to the gate’s valley. If we were returning to the estate on foot, they’d be right in our path.”
Vivian hesitated. “That doesn’t make any sense. The orcs always attack the Murai first. There have been so many battles with them that even the Imperius scholars can’t keep track anymore.”
The two soldiers exchanged a look. “My lady,” Chiron said quietly, “we saw the battle ourselves. We saw the cultivators die. And we saw someone who looked like a Murai—if not leading the orcs, then at least commanding their respect. He has a well-developed sword spirit. They’ve remained where that battle was, and we don’t know what they’re waiting for—but they’re coming this way.”
Sophie turned toward the dark ridge. “So that’s why everything’s gone silent. You were trying to stay dark while waiting for us,” she murmured.
Chiron nodded.
“What do you suggest, Captain?” Sophie asked.
Chiron’s answer was immediate. “We need to get out of here. Avoid contact at all costs.”
“So—back to the boats?” Marissa asked. “Can we get out by going back down the river? Surely they don’t have anyone watching the ravine or the lower pass?”
Leiden shook his head grimly. “We tried scouting that way. Someone’s watching it. You need to understand—there are only three routes in and out of this valley. We can take the walking trail south, right back toward the high orcs; we can try to go back downriver with the orcs and Murai watching; or we can go north upriver. It takes us away from our destination—and we’d still have to circle back—but maybe we can get around the orcs and even signal for help if we can get away from the Gate and its interference.”
They all fell silent, weighing the choices.
“Do you know what they’re waiting for?” Sophie asked.
Chiron shook his head. “No. But I know we can’t fight them—not with the numbers we have, and not with the level of talent on their side. The Murai leading them is strong. Probably a Level Six—maybe higher.”
Vivian drew a slow breath. She herself was hovering around 6. She could try to face them—but the Murai were unpredictable, their sword spirits impossible to read. It could be victory… or suicide.
At last, Anmei spoke up. “Then why don’t we take a strike team? Me and Vivian. Hit-and-run tactics. She’s Level Six; I’m near the peak of Six myself—almost Seven.”
Chiron’s reply came sharp and flat. “That’s a bad idea. We don’t know where their reinforcements are coming from, but more orcs are arriving every day. This may not be a raid. It might be the start of something larger. You don’t march demon-touched orcs into this region for no reason. There’s no strategic value here. There are no major settlements or resource hubs. There are some human villiages but there would be no point attacking those."
He looked at the women in turn. “There’s only one reason they’d come.”
Vivian’s stomach dropped. “The Gate.”
Chiron nodded once. “The Gate.”
Vivian looked down at her communicator, mind racing. She had to get the Divine Moonsteel to Ethan. She didn’t know why, but the princess had said as much. That was why they had all come this way—and they all knew it. Honestly, the whole situation couldn’t be a coincidence—a demon-touched Murai and red orcs converging on the same valley. Were these the dangers Sophie’s Insight had warned her about?
She turned to the princess. “We call in the cavalry.”
Sophie arched an eyebrow. “Meaning?”
“We call for backup. My father. My husband. My brothers—anyone who can reach us. We can’t face this alone.”
Chiron grimaced. “There’s a problem with that.”
Vivian’s head snapped toward him. “What problem?”
“Check your communicator, Lady Li.”
She did. The crystal flickered, searching. Nothing.
“The mage-net’s dead,” Chiron said. “The gate’s ambient magic and the mountain wards, hell the mountains themselves are mostly jamming the connection. You might get a pulse at best, but no link strong enough for a call or message.”
Vivian swore under her breath. “Then what do you think, Captain? What’s our best option?”
He nodded reluctantly. “North is looking more and more like our only option. We can’t assume they’re coming for you—they may be after the Gate itself. Or the woman guarding it. But if we’re here when they arrive, we’re as good as dead.”
Vivian’s decision came fast. “Then we go north. Now. And we pray they don’t see us.”