Page 1
The old man looks at the ceiling.
One second of silence.
Then he drives his fist into the table — it shakes.
He stands. He turns to face them both.
"Put on your armor. Now. We need to reach the Wall."
Page 2
Mabu: "What in hell is this Wall?"
The old man walks toward his room, speaking as he goes:
"I'll explain on the way. Move quickly before the convoy leaves."
Mabu gets up. He runs to his room. His armor hangs on the wall. He puts it on with fast, practiced movements. He slides his sword into its sheath.
He tightens the strap hard.
Page 3
He comes out. Thian is already ready at the door.
They bring the horses from the stable and prepare them. The old man mounts the first. Mabu and Thian mount theirs.
They ride.
Page 4
As they pass through the neighborhood, Mabu catches a glimpse of Yuzuha.
Her armor. Her scythe. A bag across her horse's back.
She's getting ready to leave.
"Grandfather, you two go ahead. I'll catch up."
He spurs his horse and breaks off toward her.
Page 5
He dismounts. Stands in front of her.
"What are you doing?"
"Going to defend the Wall."
Mabu breathes: "You're not going. We don't know what's happening there."
Yuzuha: "You're not my father."
Page 6
Mabu stops.
Then speaks in a voice quieter than she expected:
"Yuzuha. Look at me."
She looks.
"I'm scared for you. I don't want to see you as one body among thousands of bodies."
No anger in his voice. Just something real.
Page 7
Silence.
Yuzuha looks at him for a moment. Then she turns and closes her horse's bag.
"You don't get to decide for me."
Mabu closes his eyes for one second.
Opens them.
"Alright."
Page 8
Karki arrives from a distance on his horse: "Come on! You're late!"
Totoki behind him: "What's happening?"
Mabu: "She wants to come."
Karki: "Impossible. We can't—"
Yuzuha reaches slowly for her scythe.
Karki closes his mouth.
Page 9
Mabu puts his hand on Yuzuha's shoulder.
"You're coming. But you don't leave my sight for a single moment. No exceptions."
Yuzuha breathes through her anger. She nods in silence.
Karki looks at them both: "Are we moving now?"
All four mount up and ride hard toward the capital.
Page 10
The capital gate.
People pushing in every direction. Voices overlapping. Children crying. Men running without clear destination.
Mabu stops his horse. He looks at the scene.
"What is this?"
Page 11
In the middle of the square, a man on a wooden platform tries to speak above the noise:
"There is no need for fear! It is only an attack on the Northern Wall! The neighboring kingdoms will help us!"
A voice from the crowd: "You're the ones who brought this on us!"
Something is thrown. He wipes his face. He raises his hands: "People of the—"
Page 12
"The Southern Kingdom of Tali is attacking our Northern Wall. We are holding them back. That is all."
Another voice: "And our army?"
"Engaged elsewhere. Which is why—"
"So we're on our own?!"
The chaos grows.
Mabu watches. His jaw tightens.
Page 13
A voice cuts through the chaos:
"All volunteers to the soldier barracks immediately for registration."
Mabu dismounts. He turns to his friends.
No one speaks.
They walk toward the barracks.
Page 14
Inside the barracks. A man standing in the center.
"Everyone with an Extra Circuit — stand here. Everyone without — stand there."
Mabu searches with his eyes. He finds the old man standing with the Extra Circuit group.
Thian is with the other group.
Mabu moves toward the old man.
Page 15
A hand grabs his shoulder.
Totoki: "Don't go there."
Mabu turns: "Why?"
Totoki lowers his voice: "I heard they place Extra Circuit users in the front lines."
"I don't care."
"Mabu."
Page 16
Totoki grabs him with both hands this time.
"Your grandfather is strong. I know that and so do you. But you haven't reached his level yet. If you go to the front line right now, you won't last minutes there…"
He stops.
"Just stay here. Don't do anything reckless."
Mabu looks at the old man in the other group.
He goes quiet.
He stays where he is.
Page 17
Elsewhere.
A general in heavy armor stands before a map. Officers around him.
"The main road with our numbers will take twenty hours. By that time the Wall will have fallen."
One of them: "Then what?"
Page 18
The general places his finger on a point on the map.
"There is a shortcut. Abandoned. Full of insects and poisonous spiders. The terrain is unstable."
He raises his eyes: "But it's only three hours."
Silence in the room.
"Decide."
One of them: "Impossible. We won't take that road — do you want us dead?"
Page 19
The large barracks.
People talking everywhere. Some afraid. Some eager. Some unable to decide how they feel.
Mabu leans against the wall alone. His eyes search the crowd for the old man and Thian.
He finds no one.
Page 20
The door opens.
The general enters. He removes his helmet. Holds it against his chest.
The talking slows and stops until the room is completely silent.
Page 21
"I know you didn't choose to be here."
His voice is calm. He doesn't shout.
"I know you want to be home — with your wives, your children. I want that too."
No one speaks.
In the corner to the right, the same man who spoke of the road's dangers sits bound and silent against the wall.
Page 22
"But before us stands a Wall that protects everything behind it. Your families. Your homes. Everything you have built."
He walks slowly between the rows.
"If we don't stand… who will?"
He stops.
Page 23
"I am not asking you to die. I am asking you to stay alive while you fight."
He raises his head.
"We have the Kingdom of Lutosh coming to help. We have the Fourth Silver Armor Division. And we have you."
He places his helmet back on his head. Slowly.
Page 24
"Together, we can hold them."
He looks across the room.
"Are you with me?"
One second of silence.
Then the cheer erupts. The room shakes.
A close-up on the general's eyes.
"Then… let's move."
Continued in Chapter Fifteen