Against her mother’s decree, young Adii slipped into the forest behind their isolated small farm. Her father was in town on an errand and she was ordered to remain at home until he returned. Born with a deformity causing a severe limp, to Adii, people were her terror and the shadowy forest was her refuge. Her family was too poor to afford sending her on a journey to a far away Healer. Having recently returned from school, a bad place with too many people, Adii was in need of some time in her sanctum. “I will only go for a short trip.” she said to no one. She liked no one; no one was her best friend. “I just need a little time to feel better, and then I’ll be back well before father returns.”

  While creeping deeper into the untamed woods, Adii started to get a strange feeling. “Something is different…Is it more quiet than normal?” She asked no one. “Maybe I will come back later. Mother was quite concerned, after all.” Adii froze at the sound of a stick cracking nearby. Someone is here, she thought with panic, something is here. Using her well-practiced skill of hiding from others, she sought an appropriate fissure and ran to it, as best she could. It was a gap between a fallen tree and a large rock, just enough to conceal the tiny girl. Heart pounding, she assessed where the noise was moving. It seemed to be going West; she would go East. Monitoring what was behind her as she darted East, she froze again at the sound of movement in the direction she was heading. Adii straightened her neck to look forward and saw nothing.

  Adii paused, searching desperately for a safe direction to flee. Before one could be determined, she was ambushed from behind and thrown to the ground. Her bad leg had gone worse with a gash on the outside of her calf. Rolling to her side she saw her attacker, a mountain bear. “What is he doing so far from the hills?” She pleaded to no one in confusion.

  Turning again to get on her feet she could hear the bear from behind, gaining ground until—Whoosh! Once again she was batted to the ground, once again she felt new pain, this time from a bruise in her arm. It may have broken. In one stride the bear was there again, but he did not pounce. Instead, he let her get up. She turned to run, and he threw her to the ground once more, causing new injuries. He is playing with me, like a cat with a mouse! Mountain bears don’t play with prey, why is he—oh no, unless he is moonstruck! She looked into his eyes and behind his crazed expression she saw it: a grey glow of moonlight at the back of his eyes. Oh no, oh no! He is a moonstruck bear! Animals struck by corrupted moonlight grew in equal parts power and insanity. Adii’s situation had just become even more dire.

  Terror provided her a new surge of energy, and she escaped behind a tree. Running as fast as her legs could carry her, she heard sounds of more bears to the left and right. There was no way home now. As she pleaded to no one for help, the bear behind her advanced and— a blinding, bright white fire ran right past her. Was that an Orshir? She gasped with faint hope. No, there aren’t any around here and that was far brighter than any fireball I’ve ever seen. Without looking back, she continued her version of a run. There were no more sounds of steps behind her, but she could now see the bear on the right, and it was moving fast. As it approached, a whirr in the air grew louder until the bear changed directions, instantly being thrown into a tree where it was pinned by a large spear. It is an Orshir! Heroes of Orshir are really here! Her hope grew wild.

  Unfazed by the fate of the first two, the third bear continued towards Adii. Long before he was a threat, an arrow arrived at speed, as if it appeared from nowhere, jerking the bear’s head to the side before it fell forward to the ground. She then tumbled into a thin patch of forest and saw the greatest sight she had ever seen. A small group of people in the act of fighting bears from range, a squad of Orshir. Heroes of the land!

  A woman with long hair ran to Adii. “You’re safe now child. We have you.” Appraising Adii, she gave the child a green potion, a body elixir, to drink. Once consumed, the healer held her hands out speaking, and the wounds Adii had collected were gone and replaced with hunger. More than that, even beyond her wounds, her restoration was complete. Full energy, full health, and two healthy legs, the previously deformed one now the same as the other. Adii was in awe.

  “Hehlef, get back here!” Thalgen bellowed with commanding authority. “They’ve locked onto us, and we need to regroup into defensive positions. I’m summoning Magnus and the others to form up immediately!”

  Thalgen served as Hehlef’s squad captain. Unlike the typical Mentalist class leaders who excelled at calculating risk assessments—that was Nordev’s specialty—Thalgen had an innate talent for making sound decisions and inspiring the squad to excel. Moreover, he was a Master Striker, a rare and formidable Orshir. Nordev, in contrast, possessed a unique blend of analytical and scholarly skills, but he lacked the charisma to lead. Together, they formed a complementary and effective duo.

  “The enemy approaches with full force!” Thalgen directed the squad. “Magnus, shift left and hold your ground. Shria, guard his right flank with your spear and defensive melee forms. Nordev, unleash your arrows on the right and funnel them toward Magnus. I shall strike from the left! Enric, when they cluster together, deliver devastating blows and then retreat swiftly. Lina, you’re on cleanup duty for any bears that breach our front line. Ghan, fortify our defenses with your shields; we shouldn’t need other boosts. And Hehlef, concentrate on replenishing our mana and stamina. If we hold our positions, healing won’t be an issue!”

  Bears were dealt with in single strikes from every squad member. As their bodies piled up, Thalgen would sometimes shift the formation back a little, or to the right a little, always clearing new room for their defensive formation. Sometimes the bears would change up their attack methods and Thalgen would adjust for that.

  Eventually, the waves of attacks slowed, then stopped. The remaining bears scattered back in all directions.

  “Hehlef,” Thalgen called out with vigor, “escort the girl safely home. There’s nothing out here that can harm us, and with the enemy scattering in all directions, we need every available fighter to ensure none escape. That makes you the best choice to return her. Once you’ve completed the task, come and find us.”

  Hehlef made her way through the thick forest with the child and assessed the situation. These bears were incredibly powerful, perhaps too strong for even the best Orshir squad in this valley of over 100,000 people. It is a good thing our squad was passing through and the farmer found us. Without that, these monsters could have caused massive casualties before help arrived.

  Upon arriving at the small house, the young girls’ parents ran to Adii, the mother yelling her name, “Adii, Adii!” The small family embraced each other with tears in their eyes and gratitude on their lips for their daughter’s safety. Adii squeezed her parents tight, and then couldn’t wait any longer to show her healed leg; no more would she be the crippled girl at school. The joy and thanks from her parents doubled. Hehlef’s squad had brought hope to this family, and forever changed the life of the sweet young girl. This is how it is meant to be, the Orshir giving hope to the world.

  Amidst the continued praises from the family, Hehlef gave them a nod and turned back to her squad. With joy in her heart, Hehlef’s mind was on how far she had come. Hehlozeleph Gheebor, commonly referred to as (Heh-lef), was born to noble parents in the capital city of Hon Rashay. She went to the highest-rated academies, where she finished at the top of her class each year. She had apprenticed at the most prestigious healing center in all of the Assembly. After several years as an Apprentice to a Master Healer on a squad, she had formed up with this crew, now a Master Healer herself. She had always dreamt of being a Master Orshir, fighting in a Master squad, and now she was living her dream.

  Each member of the squad, though only at the initial stages of Mastery, showed great promise. By Orshir standards, they are a youthful and vibrant team, embarking on the first steps of their epic journey. A group of eight Masters, out to change the world. The past two years they had been doing just that - saving lives, defeating threats, and bringing hope.

  They had agreed to not take on any apprentices until they were further into their Master levels. Something Hehlef often regretted. Still, she could train someone later. They had victories to chase, and a world in need of help.

  After passing their place of battle, Hehlef expected to find the others soon. What she found instead was Lina searching for her. The news was bad. When the bears had scattered, they had all circled back to the den. Enric, their Battlemage, had the misfortune of being the first to arrive to find higher level Granite bears, and several high-level Diamond bears. Alone, he didn’t have a chance to escape.

  “How could this happen?” Hehlef exclaimed to Lina. “How could diamond mountain bears go undetected by magic surveyors long enough to grow this dangerous?”

  “More corruption in the government.” Lina bitterly replied. “Corrupt surveyors and government leaders are skipping their duties, and there is too much bureaucracy to fix it. Then, good leaders are blamed and replaced by corrupt politicians who only make things worse.”

  A sight Hehlef had been seeing more and more of. And now because of it, Enric, a powerfully promising Orshir, her squad-mate, was dead. Perhaps she was fighting the wrong war.

  Before she could finish her thoughts, they reached their squad as Thalgren directed Ghan, “Dispatch a mana dove immediately with a message to the Masters of our guild, summoning them at once. Send another to warn the valley to begin evacuations. Hehlef, excellent, you’re back. You’ve heard the news?” She nodded solemnly. “Nordev, what are our chances of defeating this den?”

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  “Our probability of success in overcoming this adversary is effectively nonexistent.”

  “Ok, what about holding them off?” Thalgren pursued. “Can we protect the valley long enough for backup to arrive?”

  Nordev obliged, “In an optimal scenario, wherein the message is received and acted upon with maximal expediency, there exists a certainty of incurring casualties among squad members—numerous casualties, to be precise. Furthermore, statistical analysis indicates an 87% probability of total squad annihilation prior to the arrival of reinforcements.”

  “So, you’re saying there’s a 13% chance of survivors and a possibility to save the entire valley?” Thalgren interjected with his characteristic optimism.

  “Affirmative, that assertion is accurate.”

  “Alright, folks, here’s the situation: we have two choices—run and live to fight another day, or stay and likely perish to save the valley. Take a few moments to really think through your decision. Everyone here has a choice, and no one, absolutely no one, gets to criticize anyone for their choice. This is a suicide mission, and it’s okay to acknowledge the futility in it.

  “But while you’re considering, I'll share my perspective. If I walk away, there’s no place in the Assembly where I could escape the guilt of pretending to be a hero after abandoning 100,000 people to die. That hypocrisy is something I couldn’t bear. So, my choices are to stay and defend the valley or walk away from this squad, from any squad, from fighting altogether. And I, for one, would prefer the pain of death over that haunting guilt.”

  Hehlef thought of the family and their praise to her as their hope, their hero, and the girl who had a new life. Could she let their hopes be taken from them so soon? Before the girl ever had a chance to feel normal? “What about the family at the farm?” She asked Nordev.

  “Given their proximity to the den, they would be the initial casualties. Despite receiving a warning, their chances of reaching the town, let alone traversing to the opposite side of the valley, are exceedingly slim.”

  “100,000," Hehlef continued, "The number matters because it shows the return for risk. But seeing the people behind the number adds more weight to what it represents. Whether it’s 100,000 or just one, if I must die to save even one girl, then it’s a price I’m willing to pay. Count me in.”

  Touched, Shria spoke out. “There’s no way I could find a new squad with a better Healer and Captain, so I might as well go down with them. What about you, Magnus?”

  The hulk of a friend Shria had so quickly become attached to while fighting side by side responded, “I’m a Tank. Protecting weaklings like you is what I live for. Add another 100,000 to protect? Bring it on! What else would I do?”

  Nordev, Lina and Ghan followed suit and it was time to make plans. “Nordev,” Thalgren began, “what’s our best strategy to stall?”

  Taking a moment to surge his Mental magic and think through their options, Nordev eventually replied, “Our options for ensuring any survivors are exceedingly limited. The optimal strategy would involve retreating to a more defensible position and postponing the commencement of hostilities. Once established, we would allocate every available mana stone to Ghan and Hehlef for support. Ghan’s role would be restricted to providing shields exclusively, with no enhancements. Hehlef would focus solely on healing. Magnus would fortify the front line, while Shria and Lina maneuver horizontally along the front to impede their attacks, delaying direct contact to minimize health damage. Thalgren and I would engage in similar delaying tactics from a distance. The objective is to maximize our health duration for survival. Our attacks must be limited to high-efficiency strikes to hinder their advance, not to kill. Ghan would be unable to augment us, and Hehlef would not be able to restore our mana or stamina. Lastly, our defensive position must allow for gradual retreat, enabling us to extend the delay before full engagement.”

  Thalgren confirmed the plan and gathered the squad. “This mission may bring death to some or all of us, marking the end of the Beacon’s Hope squad. Serving with you has been the greatest honor of my life. Farewell my friends. Let your light shine as a beacon to the world today, showing that heroes still exist!”

  With that, they clasped forearms in a circle, each reaching their right arm to the forearm of the squad-mate on their left. As one, they raised their hands and declared, “More light to us all!” Then, they marched to the grounds of their final stand as a squad.

  As the battle unfolded, Hehlef knew she would be needed more than ever before. This was not a battle to win, this was a battle to survive, and surviving was her responsibility. As the battle raged, little by little her squad-mates began to slow down. Their attacks lessened and got more sloppy, their movements were less precise and they started taking more damage than she could keep up with. Eventually, Shria took a powerful blow and went down. She was too far forward to pull back to safety, and Shria was no more.

  Thalgen moved to the line to use weapons and spells which required less mana, as he was running low, and the line needed someone to replace Shria. Despite moving back further and further to buy ground, Thalgren was no match for the role, and with limited agility and defense, he, too, was defeated. From there, the battle turned painfully slow. Every time Magnus was overrun, Nordev increased his attacks in that area and Lina pulled Magnus back. In time, Lina’s high stamina failed her, and she, too, was taken down. Hehlef now had to be the one to pull Magnus back when he needed it. With no line assistance left, Magnus was swarmed more frequently, taxing Hehlef more than she could sustain. Between the constant healing and hauling, her exhaustion was mounting.

  Hope faded, but she continued on. She had a young girl to save. When all hope seemed lost, Hehlef processed new sounds around her as her exhaustion took her consciousness. Moments later, she woke at the hands of another Master Healer. Help had arrived, but not soon enough. Magnus had been healed, damaged, healed and damaged, over and over. In the end, the relentless beating to near death, restoring, and beating again, was too much for his willpower. Magnus could not be restored any more. It was a long and brutal path to death for the giant of a man. Of the eight promising Master Orshirs, only 3 survived: Nordev, Ghan, and Hehlef. The cost was too high. Hehlef was willing to suffer the pains of death to save the girl and the valley. What she hadn’t considered was the pain of not dying. To see her comrades fall and never rise again. To miss their companionship, and the brightness they brought to the world. All gone, and Hehlef wept at their passing.

  Over the next few weeks the three survivors recovered at the guild under the close watch of their superiors. During this time Hehlef reviewed her situation after the unplanned dismantling of the Beacon’s Hope squad. There were too few to build a new squad, and Nordev had already affirmed that his days on a squad were over. With just her and Ghan left, the need for a new leader, and so many other parts to fill…it would be a gamble to try and rebuild. Better to join an existing squad with a record she could measure. But her heart could not start new. Her friends could not be replaced.

  Hehlef’s other options were to work at a healing center, or teach at an academy. By now, the fame of her squad’s heroics had spread far and wide, and she would have many suitors. Both options, however, seemed lacking. They were primed to do great things, to change the world, and these two choices seemed more a punishment for her sacrifice.

  Soon the offers began pouring in. They were as she expected, but one stood out, though not in a good way. A message from the Chancellor of an academy offering her the Premier instructor position. With this, she could do more: mentor an apprentice, teach other healers, and work at a healing center. This would at least be something, if not for where it was from. The Shrouded Academy of Light. Renowned for their class selection accuracy, despised for their under-apprentice program; and she would be working in their under-apprentice program. Worse, there were those rumors about moon kids getting in. The position offered was a mockery to her elite background, her hero status, and her vision to have a meaningful life.

  As Hehlef prepared to decline their offer, she had a visitor. It was Ne’eman, a respected advisor to her family, and the greatest influence in her life. It was under his tutelage that she excelled.

  “Ne’eman, it is an honor to wish more light to you.” She greeted him warmly. “Why have you come here?”

  “More light to you, my greatest accomplishment,” Ne’eman responded with a respectful bow to his royalty. “I come with great urgency to offer one final piece of advice to my former pupil. I have always known you were destined for more than mere success; you are here to achieve far greater things. Recent events have confirmed this. Therefore, I am here to guide you once more, toward a path where you can accomplish even greater feats. The Shrouded Academy of Light is more than it appears, as is the offer they extended to you. I cannot divulge more, but I implore you: if my counsel has served you well thus far, honor my words today and accept their offer.” With that, he bowed deeply and departed.

  Hehlef’s pride ate at her, pulling her to live a life of adoration from the world; she had earned it twice over now. But her friends had given their lives with honor, and now it was her lot to live her life with the same. To disregard Ne’eman’s guidance would bleed all honor from her, and so she made her choice.

  Months later, Hehlef arrived at the chambers of a fairly young Chancellor, Gavin Lefturi. “Ah, Premier Gheebor! Premier Gheebor, please come in, and welcome to The Shrouded Academy of Light! I am here to ensure you understand the rich history of this esteemed Academy and your pivotal role in its future. You may have heard stories of the Academy, some true and some not. What is true is that this Academy has trained the greatest Orshir in history! What you might not know is that our special mission is to prepare for someone extraordinary, who has yet to come.

  “Your role, in addition to your duties as the Healing Premier, is to watch for a moon child that stands out among all others. When you find them, you must ensure they have the support to build a foundation and become the next great Orshir! You are called to greatness to support this individual while they are weak, until they become strong. Unfortunately, our records do not detail what will make them unique, only that they will be. I trust that you are the right person to find out. Now, come, let’s show you around.”

  Hehlef did not know what to think of his story. The Chancellor did seem a bit eager in this fanciful tale. But, she committed to do her best, for the sake of Ne’eman. She owed him that much.

  When the first moon child arrived, she monitored every moment of her day. Having no idea what to look for caused her to question herself often. Whether a particular action was what she should have looked for or not. When all was said and done, the first moonchild finished the year, left the Academy, and faded to memory without event. Over the next 20 plus years, moon kids came and went, and eventually they all looked the same to Hehlef - weak, yet arrogant and demanding. By the time the one named Raiden arrived, she had given up hope of finding one unique. When she heard he was weaker than any before on record, she wrote him off completely.

  However, when the nurse came seeking a language elixir, Hehlef’s interest changed. “He doesn’t speak our language?”

  “No ma’am, not a word.”

  “That is rare. Most who don’t speak it are from distant planets with their own history and language dominating their commerce. Moon children of note are all trained in our language. They live by trade.”

  Hehlef followed the nurse to the young man's bedside, her curiosity growing as she watched the nurse administer the language elixir. The nurse brought forward the elixer and the boy spoke with words unknown. Yes, Hehlef assured herself, that's another language. Shortly after it was administered to him, he cried out in misery with more foreign words. And...Hehlef added, the elixir made it down. With the confirmation that the boy had swallowed the foul-tasting mixture, Hehlef’s fascination deepened. She leaned in close to the nurse and whispered, “I will teach him myself.”