A fire blazed in the hearth, its logs crackling and popping. In the commander’s quarters of Shield Fort, a massive sheepskin map covered nearly the entire wall opposite the flames. Thick black lines and wax-yellow hues traced mountains, rivers, castles, and villages across its surface.

The Frost Great Wall marked a clear dividing line: the northern third of the map was the Outer Wastes, beyond the kingdom’s rule, labeled with Wolfhold, Winter Snow Valley, and the Wolf God Mountains. The southern two-thirds belonged to the United Kingdom, dotted with the Royal Capital, the Citadel of Learning, Awakening City, the Palace of Mandalas, and Holy Light Village.

Orek leaned against a long table, facing the giant map. His face was etched with fatigue, his gaze unfocused.

Hanbatu was dead. He was the fourth member of the Great Wall Legion to be killed. As both the Legion’s Commander-in-Chief and a Seer, Orek had no clue who was behind it.

Why is this happening… Orek’s brow furrowed, his spirit drained.

Half a year ago, Orek had received secret intelligence that the Outer Wastes wolves were stirring, planning to attack the Frost Great Wall. He’d gathered his generals, decided on a pre-emptive strike, and led his army north across the wall to ambush the wolves’ gathering forces, catching them off guard and inflicting heavy losses. Instead of retreating after the victory, he’d pressed on, chasing the wolves all the way to their stronghold. After two days of brutal, sky-darkening battle, the human army had annihilated the wolf main force and burned Wolfhold to the ground. They’d failed to kill the Wolf King—a minor regret—but the wolf clan had been crippled by the defeat.

After the war, Orek, as the commanding general, was rewarded by the Queen with the title of Honorary Earl and a castle in the south as his fief. Those had been glorious days. At the memory, Orek’s tired face flickered with a spark of pride.

But the glory had lasted only a month. What came next was unthinkable: first, Grand Magician Peter—his right-hand man—had been found dead in Narrow Square, his head missing. Then Dreamwalker Dawn, a mage “more loyal than a dog,” had also been slain in the square, at least with his body intact. The third victim was Camon; though not a divine role, he was the Legion’s third-in-command and deeply loved by the soldiers. These three deaths had dealt a crippling blow to the Legion’s reputation and morale.

Last night, it was Hunter Hanbatu’s turn. He wasn’t as high-ranking as the first three, but he was still a divine role. He won’t be the last. Who’s next?

The Legion’s soldiers were well-trained, not easily panicked like villagers, but the unsolved murders were starting to fray their nerves. Worse, the four deaths had shattered the Seer’s authority.

Pierce the fog, see all truths. Orek knew everyone in the Legion was waiting for him to wield his Holy Light Power—the top-tier magic that could detect, purify, and kill dark creatures—to find the culprit, so the dead could rest and the living could feel safe.

But a huge secret weighed on Orek’s heart. He could no longer pierce the fog… Shortly after that battle half a year ago, he’d suddenly found his Holy Light Power gone. A Seer without Holy Light Power was no better than a common civilian.

Orek had no idea why his power had vanished. Fear, panic, helplessness, and grief had kept him awake at night; in less than six months, he’d aged ten years.

He knew how far he’d come. Born in the slums of the Royal Capital, he’d been discovered by the Archbishop at eight, his unusual talent noticed, and taken to the Crystal Temple to be bathed in holy light. For over a decade, he’d endured grueling training there, finally becoming a Seer. After making his name with several successful werewolf hunts, he’d been recommended by the Archbishop and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Frost Great Wall by the Queen—at just twenty-eight years old.

At the Wall, Orek had shown brilliant leadership, leading the human army to capture Wolfhold—the Legion’s greatest victory in a decade. That win had earned him the Queen’s title of Honorary Earl. Now he stood at the peak of glory, surrounded by luxury.

But with glory came risk. If anyone learned he’d lost his Holy Light Power, all the power, wealth, and honor he’d spent years building would vanish in an instant… Orek was terrified of losing it all. Though he’d grown up in poverty, he’d grown accustomed to fine clothes, rich food, and the respect of others. He couldn’t go back.

No one must know! If the wolves learn I’ve lost my power, they’ll come back and attack the Wall! I’m not doing this for myself—I’m protecting the kingdom. Orek tried to convince himself.

But the situation was growing worse. He could keep his secret, but the crisis of the serial murders had to be solved. Is this the start of a nightmare? Orek stared blankly at the sheepskin map, feeling utterly drained.

Hanbatu’s disrespect had enraged him, but he knew it wasn’t an isolated incident. One person questioning me means many more in the Legion doubt me now. Even though Hanbatu was dead, the doubts wouldn’t stop. Orek sighed, feeling helpless as if he wore a suit of heavy armor he couldn’t remove.

<em>Knock knock knock.</em>

A knock sounded at the door. Orek straightened up instantly, his eyes sharpening again. I am still the Commander-in-Chief, after all.

“Enter,” he said in a deep voice.

A portly man waddled in, carrying a tray. “Lunch, sir. Heh heh heh…” It was that idiot, Ahei.

“Set it on the table.” Orek glanced at the salt-baked fish on the tray and felt his appetite vanish.

“Yes, heh heh heh…” Ahei set the tray down.

When Orek first arrived at the Wall, he’d hated Ahei: the fat man rambled nonsense all day and only laughed “heh heh heh.” He couldn’t understand why the Legion kept such a useless person around—feeding a fat man was a waste of grain. Only after being persuaded by Old Rui and Camon had he let Ahei stay. After two years, he’d grown used to the fool’s chuckles. After Camon’s death, Orek had ordered Ahei to bring him meals—might as well put the useless man to work.

“Heh heh heh…”

Orek noticed Ahei’s odd expression and frowned. “What is it?”

“I smell it… the scent of mandalas…” Ahei chuckled foolishly.

Orek’s heart skipped a beat. He spun around to see Shana the Witch standing in the doorway, smiling as she walked toward him.