Team 22 returned to the main camp just before the last rays of the sun were swallowed by the encroaching darkness. Cassian, the team leader, headed straight to report on the day's activities, as he had done every evening for the past week. He wasn't alone—several other team leaders were present as well, gathered for their nightly debriefing.
Over the past few days, Cassian had gotten to know a few of them, having crossed paths in the forest while fighting off threats. Most of the team leaders were First-Circle warriors, though there were a few exceptions—mages of Emberling rank who stood out amid the crowd.
All of them were older than Cassian and had come from universities rather than the city's forces. They'd been assigned here by their institutions to gain some practical experience. Most were decent people who just minded their own business.
