For the past year, we hadn’t experienced a battle of this scale. This was a literal 'war,' with hundreds of people supporting the effort.

Even though this wasn't a military or knightly force, we knew that war inevitably brings casualties. So, when we first realized that Alphares' western gate was under attack, a single thought filled my mind.

Fewer troops than at other gates. And because of that, countless civilian casualties.

...And among them, a severely injured comrade of ours.

However... that didn’t happen.

[A mage cast a protective spell over the western gate's walls.] [Thanks to that, even though …