The mission seemed too simple to fail, and perhaps that was the first mistake.
We received the order early in the morning. A supply route had been compromised during the night. Nothing directly related to the Sixth General, but close enough to his zones of influence to raise concern. Recover whatever was possible, confirm information, and return. Fast. Direct. No heroics.
Vespera read the report carefully and let out a short sigh. "When they say simple, it usually means neglected."
Elara agreed with a subtle nod. "Or underestimated."
Liriel just looked at me. "Are you in condition to go?"
I was tired, sore, and far from ideal. But refusing wasn't an option.
"I'm functional," I replied again, and realized how common that phrase was becoming.
The road was too quiet. No sign of merchants, no natural movement. That alone indicated something had gone wrong before we arrived. We advanced cautiously, keeping a tighter formation than usual.
"Smell of iron," Vespera murmured.
We found the remains of the convoy shortly after. Destroyed wagons, signs of fighting, but few bodies. The attack had been efficient. Targeted.
Elara knelt and touched the ground. "This wasn't a common raid. They took something specific."
Liriel frowned. "Information?"
"Or magical resources," I replied.
That was when the mistake was confirmed.
The ambush didn't come with shouts or explosions. It came with silence, broken too late. Smaller creatures, but well coordinated, emerged from the flanks. They weren't strong, but there were many.
"West!" Vespera shouted.
I reacted too quickly. The new method responded, but not the way I expected. The spike of strength came—short and unstable. I brought down two enemies, but felt the internal pressure explode into pain.
"Takumi, hold it," Elara shouted.
Liriel advanced without hesitation, controlled but precise. Vespera moved through the shadows, efficient as always. We managed to open space, but it was already too late to protect everything.
One of the remaining wagons was taken while we fought.
When the last enemy fell, the silence returned, heavy.
I braced myself on one knee, breathing with difficulty. My body demanded payment for the poorly calculated effort.
"We failed," Vespera said, without softening it.
Elara assessed the damage. "We lost resources and position. And now we know they're collecting something."
Liriel looked at me, her eyes hard. "You pushed too far."
"I needed to respond quickly," I shot back.
"And you responded wrong," she said.
There was no discussion after that. Only a silent return.
At the guild, the report was delivered plainly. There was no punishment, but there was no praise either. Just acknowledgment.
The failure wasn't total.
But it was enough to hurt.
That night, sitting alone, I understood something training hadn't taught me.
Not every advance makes up for bad decisions.
Not every mistake can be corrected with strength.
And some failures exist only to remind us that learning also costs loss.