The central stronghold was said to be among the best-defended military bastions in the realm, armed with centuries-old detection arrays and a dozen layers of magical fortification.
When the danger was still a thousand miles away, the warning was already sounded.
A low, harmonic hum swept through the entire fortress like a ripple in water—then came the thunderclap of the first defense array activating. In the blink of an eye, a translucent blue dome burst into life, enveloping the stronghold in a shimmering barrier. The air crackled with the raw taste of mana. At that exact moment, Emery was only a few steps away from slipping through the outer gate.
The sudden wall of energy flared right in front of him, locking him out.
A stern voice barked from the tower above. "Master Alchemist! Please step back—it's dangerous out here!"
A tall guard captain clad in obsidian scale armor dropped down beside him; the man gestured firmly toward the interior courtyard.
