The sky rumbled faintly above the Mirdia Military Base as a fleet of sleek, silver-gray magic-powered airships descended from the clouds. Their hulls shimmered with enchantments, and the blue thrusters beneath each ship gave off a soft hum as they slowed their descent.
Inside one of the larger vessels, Arriel stood by the railing, gripping it with both hands. The air whipped through his hair as he stared down at the sprawling base below. Soldiers in formation. Magic cannons. Steel-plated hover trucks lined up like hunting dogs waiting for a signal. The border facing the Kingdom of Theodor loomed not far away—just over the horizon beyond the misty hills.
"They're really preparing for war," Arriel murmured.
Lira stood beside him, her gaze sharp but unreadable. "They've probably been preparing for years."
Behind them, other Heroes muttered and shifted with anticipation or discomfort. Some were excited. Others, like Arriel, wore the weight of it in their silence.
The airships landed smoothly on a magically reinforced platform. The ramp descended, and the Mirdia Heroes Division disembarked.
They were met not with fanfare, but with wary salutes from rows of regular soldiers in blue-gray military armor. Some bore magic rifles slung over their shoulders, others held magic guns in quick-draw holsters. A few had magic swords sheathed at their sides and shields glowing faintly with barrier enchantments. Their uniforms were tight, precise—less ornamental, more practical.
These aren't adventurers. These are soldiers.
Arriel could tell the difference instantly. Even without the levels of a Hero, these men and women were disciplined, coordinated, and trained to function like parts of a war machine.
Despite knowing basic magic, the mana crystals embedded in their gear told the true story—soldiers here used enchanted weapons because their mana pools were too small to sustain magic in combat. The few who could use magic directly, likely only had enough for a spell or two.
Commander Elle stepped forward to meet a silver-haired officer who saluted her with sharp precision. After a short exchange, Elle turned back to the Heroes.
"You've got one hour to settle in. Then, meet at the south training yard. Bring no weapons."
The group dispersed to their temporary quarters—simple bunks stacked inside magically cooled bunkhouses. After a brief rest, Arriel and Lira met the others at the designated yard just before sunset.
It was a large clearing marked by glowing stones—protected with ward runes to prevent magic from spilling beyond. On the far side, a few regular soldiers were observing from behind a barrier wall.
Commander Elle stood before the gathered Heroes, hands behind her back. Her feline ears twitched slightly in the wind.
"Today's training is hand-to-hand sparring. No weapons. No offensive magic. Only the body reinforcement enchantments provided at the start of the session."
As she spoke, small crystal tags were distributed. Each tag activated a defensive body enchantment, designed to soften blows and prevent injury while preserving the impact of a fight.
"Pick someone close to your level. Remember, technique matters."
Arriel and Lira nodded at each other silently and moved away from the cluster. Around them, other Heroes paired off and began sparring—clashing fists, sweeping legs, and launching reinforced punches that cracked the air like thunder.
But Arriel and Lira?
They flowed.
They turn, redirect, and divert attacks. Arriel blocked a punch with his forearm, stepped aside, and let his opponent's own weight carry them forward. Lira took a grappling attempt and smoothly flipped the attacker over her shoulder, using only balance and angle. It was quiet, smooth—almost dance-like.
If someone from Earth had seen them, they might've called it aikido.
While others focused on crushing and overpowering, they focused on survival and subdual.
A few other Heroes nearby paused to watch them. One, a burly Level 10 with fire magic gauntlets, scoffed.
"What are they doing? Hugging the enemy to death?"
Another, more observant, murmured, "They haven't lost once."
From behind the ward barrier, Commander Elle watched silently, her expression unreadable. Her tail swayed with slow precision. Whatever she thought of their unorthodox methods, she didn't stop them.
Eventually, the training session wound down. Bodies were sore, sweat dripped, and bruises—despite the enchantments—marked many arms and legs. The sun had slipped low, staining the western sky a rich orange.
Arriel and Lira sat on a nearby rock under a crooked tree, sipping from enchanted water flasks. Around them, Heroes laughed, argued, and recounted sparring moments like they were already at war.
"We stood out again," Arriel said softly.
Lira looked up at the sky. "Good."
He smiled faintly, feeling the ache in his muscles, the strain in his shoulders—and something else.
"Lira... do you think fighting like this will be enough when the war starts?"
She didn't answer immediately. Then she said, "It depends what we're fighting for."
That night, as stars crept over the border sky and whispers of the Theodor frontlines crept into the air, Arriel lay awake in his bunk.
He was stronger now. But more than that, he was starting to understand the kind of hero he wanted to be.