El Dorado Mountains
The journey to El Dorado took a full day, traveling in military transport vehicles that Father had commissioned from the DaVinci Company. As the lush forests of Avalon gave way to the rugged terrain of the northern mountains, the six officers watched the landscape transform through the windows. None had ventured this far from the Academy before, except for Leonidas and Iris, who regarded the approaching mountains with a mixture of nostalgia and apprehension.
"Home," Leonidas murmured, his eyes tracing the familiar silhouette of the great mountain range that housed the Dwarven kingdom.
Damian, still recovering from his mana withdrawal, pressed his face against the glass like an excited child. Though born in El Dorado, he had left as a youth to pursue magical studies unavailable to most Dwarves. "I never thought I'd return like this."
The transport climbed steadily along switchback roads carved into the mountainside, eventually reaching a plateau where a military encampment had been established. Unlike the makeshift conditions of their Avalon training, this base featured permanent structures; stone barracks, training fields, and what appeared to be sophisticated equipment installations.
As they disembarked, they noticed other training groups scattered across the vast facility; dozens of officers from their graduating class, all engaged in similar boot camp regimens. Their group of six was just one small unit among many being prepared for the coming war.
Father awaited them at a designated training area, standing beside a large device that hummed with magical energy. As they lined up at attention, each officer felt a sudden rush of warmth spreading through their bodies; their mana reserves returning after a week of suppression.
"Welcome to Phase Four," Father greeted them. "You've experienced combat without magic. Now you'll learn to fight with limited magical resources."
He gestured to the humming device. "This field generator simulates the mana conditions of the Human Realm. Your reserves are restored, but replenishment will be drastically slower than what you're accustomed to in Eldaria. Once depleted, your mana will accumulate at approximately one-tenth your normal rate."
Damian visibly relaxed as his mana flowed through him again, the color returning to his face. "Will this be safe for me?" he asked hesitantly.
"Yes," Father assured him. "You'll have enough ambient mana to maintain your physiological balance, but you'll need to carefully manage your reserves for combat purposes."
Aurelia closed her eyes briefly, feeling the familiar power coursing through her veins again. After a week without it, the sensation was almost intoxicating. "What are our objectives for this phase, Father?"
"Integration," he replied. "Combining physical combat with strategic magic use. Learning when to rely on your MR1s and when to expend precious mana. Understanding that in the Human Realm, magic is not your primary resource; it's your last resort."
Instructor Grimm stepped forward, distributing equipment packs to each officer. "You six will continue training as a unified squad. Your performance in previous weeks has demonstrated exceptional unit cohesion; a quality we're fostering among all our officer teams."
The mountain air was thin and cold, a stark contrast to Avalon's humid warmth. As they settled into their barracks that evening, Leonidas provided insights about the terrain to his fellow officers.
"El Dorado isn't just mountains," he explained, sketching a rough map. "It's a complex network of peaks, valleys, and cave systems. The Dwarven cities are built inside the mountains themselves, connected by tunnels that stretch for hundreds of miles."
"Will we be training in the caves?" Julian asked, already analyzing potential tactical advantages.
"Some exercises, yes," Grimm confirmed from the doorway. "The cave networks provide excellent simulation for urban combat conditions you might encounter in human settlements."
That night, they slept deeply, their bodies adjusting to the altitude and the strange sensation of having mana again, yet feeling it replenish so slowly. Damian in particular slept soundly for the first time in days, his hybrid physiology stabilizing with the return of his magical essence.
Dawn arrived with a blaring horn that echoed off the mountain walls. The officers assembled on the training field where an elaborate obstacle course had been constructed, combining physical challenges with magical barriers.
"First exercise," Grimm announced. "Complete the course using optimal resource management. Physical prowess where possible, magic only when necessary."
The course was fiendishly designed. Certain obstacles could only be overcome with magic, while others required pure physical effort. The trick was identifying which was which and allocating resources accordingly.
"Mana wall ahead," Leonidas warned as they approached a shimmering barrier. "Requires dispelling."
Aurelia assessed their reserves. "Damian, you have the most mana. Can you handle it?"
The Dwelf nodded, concentrating as he channeled energy into a dispelling pattern. The barrier flickered and dissolved, but Damian staggered slightly from the effort.
"That took more than I expected," he admitted. "Maybe 30% of my reserves."
"And it won't come back quickly," Aurelia reminded him. "We need to be more selective."
As they progressed, Julian studied each obstacle carefully before suggesting approaches. "This climbing wall, we should use physical strength only. Save magic for the barriers we can't overcome otherwise."
Lucius and Silver worked in tandem, the dire wolf helping to identify paths of least resistance through the course. Iris used her MR1 sparingly, finding creative ways to trigger mechanisms that would otherwise require magical activation.
By midday, they had completed the course with moderate mana expenditure; not perfect, but a solid first attempt at resource management.
"Acceptable," Father acknowledged as they gathered for debriefing. "You're beginning to understand the fundamental principle of Fae combat in the Human Realm, magic as a precious resource rather than a standard tool."
The following days introduced new dimensions to their training. Mornings focused on physical combat enhanced by minimal magic; learning to channel small amounts of mana to strengthen a sword strike or improve aim with an MR1, rather than casting elaborate spells.
Afternoons were dedicated to tactical exercises in various mountain terrains; open plateaus, narrow passes, and eventually the cave systems Leonidas had described. The darkness and confining spaces of the caves presented unique challenges, especially for the Elves accustomed to forest and jungle environments.
"I can't see anything," Julian muttered during their first cave exercise, the team navigating by touch along a narrow passage.
"That's the point," Iris replied, her Desert Dwarf eyes better adapted to darkness. "Humans fight in all conditions; sewers, tunnels, buildings without light."
Leonidas moved confidently through the caves, his Dwarven heritage evident in his sure-footed progress. "My people have lived in these mountains for centuries. You learn to sense the space around you, to feel the air currents, to listen to the echoes."
For Lucius, the cave exercises meant adapting Silver's role. The dire wolf's acute senses became invaluable in the darkness, detecting subtle changes in air currents and echoes that even the Dwarves couldn't perceive.
On the fourth day, Father introduced a new element to their training; civilian protection scenarios. Unlike the Dungeon simulations where objectives were purely military, these exercises included non-combatant Fae whom the officers needed to evacuate while engaging enemy forces.
"In the coming conflict," Father explained, "protecting our people will be as important as defeating the enemy. Humans often target civilian populations to demoralize their opponents."
This added layer of complexity transformed their approach to combat. No longer could they focus solely on defeating enemies or achieving objectives; they had to consider collateral damage, evacuation routes, and the psychological impact on the civilians they protected.
Their squad worked seamlessly together during these scenarios. Aurelia's natural empathy allowed her to calm frightened civilians while still maintaining tactical awareness. Julian's survival expertise proved invaluable for establishing safe extraction routes. Leonidas and Iris focused on perimeter security, while Lucius and Silver served as scouts and early warning systems. Damian, still cautious with his mana usage, discovered an unexpected talent for medical support, his hybrid nature giving him insights into both Elven and Dwarven physiologies.
Throughout the week they observed other officer squads training nearby, some struggling with the same challenges they had overcome. Their unique composition: Elves, Dwarves, a Dwelf, and even a dire wolf; had initially seemed like a potential weakness, but was proving to be their greatest strength. Each member brought different perspectives and abilities that complemented the others.
"We're fortunate," Julian commented one evening as they watched another squad arguing over tactics. "Our differences make us stronger."
Leonidas nodded. "The DaVinci philosophy, diverse components working in harmony create the most effective machines."
By the end of the week, the six officers had developed a seamless integration of their various skills. They had learned to communicate with minimal words, anticipate each other's movements, and allocate resources; both physical and magical, with maximum efficiency.
On the final evening of week four, Father gathered all the officer squads on a mountain overlook that provided a breathtaking view of Eldaria spread out below; the forests of Avalon, the jungles of Shangri-la, the distant deserts of Erebus, and the glittering ocean beyond.
"What do you see?" he asked simply.
"Home," Aurelia replied without hesitation. "Everything we're fighting to protect."
Father nodded, his expression solemn. "And beyond that horizon lies the Human Realm, territory that Alexander and his people now claim. Territory that was once part of this world before I destroyed it."
This wasn't new information, and the officers exchanged glances. The Fae had always known Father had found some fault in the Human he found irredeemable.
"The Human's are growing everyday," Father continued. "They fight a war among themselves but eventually one Human side will win. When that happens, war becomes inevitable."
He turned to face them directly. "Week four has taught you to fight in conditions similar to what you'll face in the Human Realm. You've learned to value magic as a precious resource rather than an unlimited power. You've experienced the complexity of warfare that involves civilian protection and varied terrain."
Father gestured toward the encampment below. "But there is one lesson you have yet to learn, perhaps the most important one. Week five will take you to Shangri-la, where you will confront the true cost of war."
As they made their way back to the barracks, the six officers walked together, quieter than usual, each contemplating Father's words. The training had been physically and mentally demanding, but they had adapted and grown stronger as a unit. Yet something in Father's tone suggested that the greatest challenges still lay ahead.
"What do you think he means by 'the true cost of war'?" Damian asked as they prepared for sleep.
Aurelia shook her head. "I don't know, but I suspect it's something no amount of training can fully prepare us for."
Julian, ever practical, checked his equipment while considering the question. "Humans have fought wars for thousands of years. They've developed not just tactics and weapons, but philosophies and psychologies of conflict. Perhaps that's what we need to understand."
"Whatever it is," Leonidas said firmly, "we'll face it together. That's one thing these four weeks have taught us, we're stronger as a unit than as individuals."
As they drifted off to sleep, the mountain winds howled outside, a haunting reminder of the harsh realities they had encountered and the even harsher ones that awaited them in Shangri-la.