The Army company and rescued civilians streaming inside the fort's massive gates were greeted by more soldiers and the few cultivators there. They watched with straightened postures as their allies rejoined them in the imposing structure. A massive location meant to hold thousands of mortal fighters and ten times as many noncombatants in understructure.
Watch guards peered down from the battlements, their gazes lingering on the raven-haired cultivator near the column's head flanked by the smaller one that had brought the warning. Whispers had raced ahead of them like wildfire, caused by the reports of Captain Cyera to the upper brass.
"That's the one. The Yecine who slew the leader."
"Alone, they say. Less than a day after the incursion started."
"Impossible..."
"One of their people said they saw it with her own eyes. Maybe we can find them and ask later?"
