The wind outside carried the smell of sand and oil. Fort Albrecht sat quiet under the dull light of the moon, its walls humming with the low rhythm of generators.
Inside the mess hall, the team gathered around a worn-out table. The lamps were dim only one still flickering at the far end of the room, enough to cast long, moving shadows on their faces.
Cyrus sat with his elbows on the table, a half-empty cup between his hands.
Kael leaned back in his chair, head tilted against the wall.
Lira sat beside him, finishing her canned beef.
Arlen sat by the corner, arms crossed.
Seraphina, calm as ever, leaned near the lamp, quietly flipping through her field notes.
It had been three days since they arrived at the outpost. The silence had grown heavier with each passing night.
No one spoke until Cyrus did.
"You ever wonder how it all began?"
His voice broke through the quiet like a low hum. Kael's eyes drifted toward him; Lira paused her movements; even Arlen turned slightly. Cyrus didn't look up, he just spoke as if to himself.
"Before the Orders. Before the Saints. Before the Church built its walls around what we call faith… there was one man."
He looked toward the lamp — the faint light reflected in his eyes.
"They said he was no prophet. No king. Just a man who refused to die.
Arlen smirked faintly. "The First Saint, huh? I thought that was just church myth."
Cyrus shook his head slowly.
"He was the first to stand when no one else would. When the Blight came and tore the sky apart, when men turned on each other, and the world fell silent ,he walked through the ashes. They said he carried no divine gift, just a will stronger than death itself. That's why the Church named him the First Saint. The man who fought until faith itself took form."
For a moment, no one said anything. The hum of the generator filled the room.
Lira finally spoke. "That story again… I've heard it a hundred times," she said, smiling faintly. "Still gives me peace."
Kael had drifted halfway to sleep, his head resting against her lap now. Her hand rested over his shoulder unconsciously.
Seraphina's eyes softened at the sight but she said nothing.
Arlen scoffed from the corner. "Peace? It's just a bedtime story to keep recruits hopeful. Doesn't mean a damn thing out here."
Cyrus looked at him briefly.
"Maybe. But sometimes a story is all that keeps people standing."
The mess hall went quiet again. The wind pushed against the walls, and somewhere, a loose metal sheet clanged faintly.
It felt almost peaceful , the kind of silence that comes right before orders arrive.
The door opened. Elijah stepped inside, his coat still dusted from the outside wind.
Everyone turned slightly as he approached the table.
"Three days," he said. "That's how long we've been waiting."
He placed a small file on the table. The wax seal of the Church marked its cover.
"We've been given the green light," he continued. "According to weather reports, a dust devil's forming by dawn tomorrow. If we time it right, it'll mask our entry for at least an hour. That's our window to infiltrate and extract what we need. No unnecessary risks, no attention drawn."
Arlen straightened. "You're serious about using a storm for cover?"
"It's not a storm," Elijah said flatly. "It's a distraction. We make it work."
Lira glanced down at Kael, who was pretending to sleep. "Guess the nap's over, sharpshooter," she murmured.
Seraphina stood and began folding her notes. "I'll prepare the medical kits. We'll need everyone checked before departure."
Cyrus nodded. "Then it's settled. We move with the wind."
Elijah gave one last look at each of them before heading for the door. "Get some rest," he said quietly. "We move at first light."
The lamp flickered again.
Outside, the wind rose a low, constant moan across the desert floor. Inside, the table remained warm, the echoes of old faith and older wars lingering in the air.
For tonight, they rested.
By dawn, they'd move toward the unknown.
---
[MISSION LOG EXCERPT — FIELD DOSSIER #03-A]
Name: Lira D'Mont
Age: 22
Rank: Recon Specialist / Close-Combat (Chosen Child)
Role: Infiltration lead, scout, close-quarters specialist
Abilities: Enhanced agility, stealth, and reflexes; excels in silent takedowns and short-range combat.
Weapons: Dual combat blades, compact sidearm, smoke charges.
Personality: Bold, focused, and fiercely protective, doesn't shy from what she feels, especially when it comes to Kael.
Notes: Kael may be her calm, but she's the storm that shields him.