The moment the plane landed in Fairbanks, Alaska, and the cabin doors opened, freezing air rushed inside.
Several recruits immediately shivered.
Some with excitement.
Some with anxiety.
Some with pride.
And some with nervous anticipation.
Rose stepped outside and looked across the endless white landscape.
Snow-covered mountains stretched across the horizon beneath a pale winter sky.
She could feel the cold against her skin.
Adjusting her body temperature with her magic, she remained comfortable despite wearing only a black coat, black hat, black shirt, blue jeans, and high-knee boots.
As she exhaled, white mist escaped from her lips.
Rose watched her breath drift into the frozen air.
It was a strange sensation.
Cold.
Quiet.
And yet somehow calming.
For the first time, she was standing on the front lines of the war.
⸻
The recruits gathered together on the snowy runway.
A sharp wind swept across the open airfield as Sanju stepped forward.
His expression was serious.
Gone was the relaxed teacher Rose had trained with for the past two years.
Today, he looked every bit the soldier.
"We are not here for sightseeing," Sanju said loudly.
His voice carried easily through the cold air.
"We are here to save lives."
He paused.
"And we are here to protect our families."
The recruits immediately straightened.
"The recruits will now be divided into teams of ten. Each team has been assigned a color designation. Your team color will determine which station and sector you will be assigned to."
Sanju unfolded a clipboard.
"As I call your names, pay attention."
Rose listened as the assignments began.
"Team One — Red Team."
Ryder Hawthorne.
Selene Crescent.
James Sine.
August Morris.
Benny Waller.
Achelous Palet.
Irish Baptiste.
Sophia Williams.
Claudette Perry.
Rose Maxwell.
Rose blinked.
To her surprise, Claudette had been placed on the same team.
A small smile appeared on her face.
At least she would know someone.
Sanju continued.
"Team Two — Blue Team."
"Team Three — Green Team."
"Team Four — Black Team."
"Team Five — Yellow Team."
Each team would be stationed somewhere along Alaska's northern defense line.
And before the day was over, every recruit would learn exactly why those stations existed.
⸻
As Sanju finished the assignments, the distant sound of engines echoed across the runway.
Everyone turned.
Seven armored military vehicles were approaching.
Large APCs rolled across the snow before stopping in front of the recruits.
The moment the vehicles stopped, soldiers exited with practiced precision.
Several officers immediately saluted Sanju.
Rose noticed something she had never seen before.
Three silver stars decorated his uniform.
General Third Class.
For the first time, Sanju didn't look like her teacher.
He looked like a battlefield commander.
The soldiers remained at attention.
Waiting.
Sanju returned the salute.
"Once you enter your assigned vehicles, each team will choose a leader."
His gaze swept across the recruits.
"By the time we reach the main base, your leader will report directly to me."
His voice became colder.
"As of this moment, I am no longer your instructor."
The air seemed to grow heavier.
"I am your commanding officer."
"If you understand, answer me."
"YES, SIR!"
The recruits shouted in unison.
Five sergeants stepped forward.
Each wore a colored armband matching one of the teams.
"Move out!" one barked.
The recruits immediately began boarding their assigned vehicles.
⸻
Rose climbed into Red Team's APC and sat beside Claudette.
The heavy doors closed behind them.
Moments later, the vehicle began moving.
Silence filled the compartment.
Everyone seemed to be waiting for someone else to speak first.
Finally, Sophia crossed her arms and lifted her chin.
"I'll lead the team."
Several heads turned toward her.
Sophia smirked.
"You can all follow my orders."
James stared at her.
Then laughed.
"No."
Sophia's expression darkened.
"No?"
"No," James repeated.
"And why not?"
"Because none of us know you."
A few recruits chuckled.
Sophia's face immediately reddened.
"What? A woman can't lead?"
James rolled his eyes.
"No."
He pointed toward Rose.
"A woman can absolutely lead."
His grin widened.
"Just not you."
The compartment erupted with laughter.
Sophia looked ready to explode.
⸻
Before she could respond, August spoke.
"What if we choose based on experience?"
The laughter faded.
Everyone looked toward him.
August nodded toward Rose.
"I think Rose should lead."
Rose nearly jumped.
"Me?"
August shrugged.
"You've actually fought one of those things."
Several recruits immediately nodded.
Claudette folded her arms proudly.
"She's the first recruit who ever killed a Shadow."
The compartment fell silent.
Even the driver glanced at Rose through the rearview mirror.
The sergeant riding with them looked up.
He remembered that day.
Every recruit had been terrified.
Then Rose had stepped forward.
One attack.
One burst of power.
And the Shadow had vanished.
Rumors about her had spread quickly afterward.
The last descendant of the Radiance Clan.
Dragon and Phoenix blood.
A warrior born to fight darkness.
The old stories claimed that no darkness could escape the light of the Radiance Clan.
Looking at Rose now, the sergeant almost believed it.
⸻
Rose felt everyone's eyes on her.
She quickly waved her hands.
"No, no. It's okay."
"You guys can decide among yourselves."
"I'll follow whoever becomes leader."
Sophia looked stunned.
Then angry.
Then jealous.
Rose immediately felt the emotion.
A moment later she heard Sophia's thoughts.
"Bitch."
"Just because you killed one monster."
"Once we get to camp, I'll show everyone who's stronger."
"You're not even that pretty anyway."
Rose blinked.
Then nearly laughed.
Wow.
I haven't even done anything and I've already made an enemy.
⸻
James raised his hand.
"Let's vote."
Everyone nodded.
"Who wants Rose as team leader?"
James raised his hand first.
Claudette immediately followed.
Then August.
Selene.
Ryder.
Benny.
Irish.
Achelous.
One by one, hands went up.
Only Sophia kept hers lowered.
Ryder shrugged.
"Honestly?"
"I don't want to die."
Several recruits laughed.
But he remained serious.
"Rose has already fought Shadows."
"If one shows up, she knows what to do."
He pointed toward Sophia.
"What would you do?"
Sophia opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Ryder leaned back.
"Exactly."
"I'd rather follow someone with experience."
The rest of the team nodded.
The decision was unanimous.
⸻
James grinned.
"Looks like you're our leader."
Rose sighed.
There was no escaping it now.
She looked around at her team.
Every face was watching her.
Waiting.
Trusting her.
Something about that realization felt heavier than she expected.
Finally, Rose nodded.
"Alright."
"If I'm your leader, then we do things together."
The others listened carefully.
"The moment we reach the base, we're holding a team meeting."
"We'll learn each other's strengths."
"We'll learn each other's weaknesses."
"And we'll make a plan before we're assigned any missions."
Several recruits nodded.
Rose's gaze shifted toward Sophia.
"If we're going to survive this war, everyone works together."
Sophia looked away.
Clearly unhappy.
But she didn't argue.
⸻
Several hours later, the APC began slowing down.
The recruits looked out the windows.
Nothing was there.
Only a massive mountain covered in snow.
Confused murmurs spread through the vehicle.
Then suddenly—
The mountain split open.
A massive steel door emerged from beneath layers of snow and stone.
Everyone stared.
The entrance was enormous.
Large enough for multiple APCs to enter side by side.
The vehicles rolled forward.
As they passed through the opening, Rose felt something brush against her skin.
A familiar sensation.
Magic.
Her eyes narrowed.
"A barrier…"
Claudette looked at her.
"You felt it too?"
Rose nodded.
The barrier was incredibly powerful.
Far stronger than anything she had encountered before.
Camouflage.
Protection.
Concealment.
This entire base had been hidden from the outside world.
⸻
The APC entered the mountain fortress.
Rose stared in amazement.
The interior was massive.
Aircraft hangars.
Training grounds.
Barracks.
Command centers.
Thousands of soldiers moved throughout the facility.
It looked like an entire city hidden beneath the mountain.
The vehicle finally came to a stop.
As Rose and the others stepped outside, a loud siren suddenly echoed throughout the underground base.
WOOOOOOO!
WOOOOOOO!
The recruits immediately froze.
Several soldiers nearby stopped what they were doing.
Others began moving quickly toward one of the hangar entrances.
"What happened?" Benny asked nervously.
No one answered.
A few moments later, the sound of engines echoed through the mountain.
Rose turned toward the massive entrance tunnel.
Several military trucks were returning.
The vehicles looked damaged.
Deep claw marks covered the armored plating.
One truck had an entire section of metal ripped away as if something had torn through it.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
The joking.
The excitement.
The nervous smiles.
All of it vanished.
The trucks rolled to a stop.
Medical teams immediately rushed forward.
The rear doors opened.
Several recruits gasped.
Inside were wounded soldiers.
Some were unconscious.
Others were covered in blood.
One soldier was missing an arm.
Another had deep claw wounds across his chest despite wearing reinforced armor.
A medic shouted for assistance.
"Move! Move! Move!"
The injured were quickly loaded onto stretchers and rushed toward the medical wing.
Rose watched silently.
For the first time since arriving in Alaska, she could truly see the cost of the war.
This wasn't training.
This wasn't a simulation.
People were fighting.
People were suffering.
People were dying.
Beside her, Claudette's hand slowly grabbed Rose's sleeve.
Rose looked down.
Claudette's face had turned pale.
Her eyes were fixed on the wounded soldiers being carried away.
Fear filled them.
Pure fear.
The kind of fear that appeared when reality finally shattered every illusion.
Claudette's voice trembled.
"Rose…"
Rose could feel her hand shaking.
"What if that happens to us?"
For a moment, Rose didn't answer.
Because the truth was—
It could.
Any of them could be next.
That was the reality of war.
Rose slowly placed her hand over Claudette's and squeezed gently.
Her voice remained calm.
"We'll be careful."
Claudette looked at her.
Rose forced a small smile.
"We didn't come all this way just to give up."
The fear in Claudette's eyes remained.
But she nodded.
Rose turned back toward the soldiers being carried into the medical wing.
Toward the battlefield waiting beyond the fortress walls.
Toward the war she had trained for.
And deep within her heart, she made a silent promise.
I will protect everyone.
No matter what it costs.
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