Lee leaves the medical tent and wanders into the open purple field, searching for Elder Hethal. Even though Lee was only in the tent briefly, the defensive measures have grown substantially. The many wooden barricades and walls have been placed to funnel monsters through the center, creating a chokepoint.

It didn’t take long for Lee to find Elder Hethal, as he was talking to a large group near the tree line. Lee raises his hand toward him as he strides forward, catching his attention.

Elder Hethal glances in his direction and gives a minute nod. Lee eventually draws close enough to hear the final words of his speech. “... now go on and prepare.” The small group disbands and wanders back to the entrance of Neldam, leaving Lee and Elder Hethal alone.

Lee takes the initiative. “I was told by Anya that I am more suited to be a combat healer. She told me to talk to you about my placement. She also said she might need to pull me back to help in the tent.”

Elder Hethal looks weary and worried. “She was wise to send you to me. Have you learned some wall spells?”

Lee nods and casts Water Wave Wall, creating a towering torrential wave. “I have water, wind, earth creation, and ice. I can place some of the earthen walls around if you would like. According to Neia, they won't disappear until destroyed.”

Elder Hethal’s weariness fades slightly. “That would be very helpful. Follow me, and I’ll show you what your duties are while we place walls. “ Finishing, he begins to speed walk across the open field.

Lee follows, casting and placing a Wall of Earth when instructed. Elder Hethal observes an earth wall with a satisfying smile. “Your spell will help save lives.” Changing his focus to Lee, he adds. “What we would like you do to, is to observe from behind the front lines, healing those who become injured, and using your buff and debuff when you deem fit. If you have time in between those actions, you may freely cast offensive spells. I’m not going to lie Lee, your position is going to be dangerous.”

Lee finishes placing a Wall of Earth and gives Elder Hethal his undivided attention. “I assumed it would be… Elder Hethal, do you have any advice? This is going to be my first battle, and I’m not ashamed to say that I’m scared.”

Elder Hethal shows Lee a kind and reassuring smile. “Please, call me Anix. Admitting you’re afraid is more than most people would admit, and it shows your character. The question is, are you scared for your wellbeing or your friends?”

Not expecting this question, Lee thinks about it deeply.

I already died once. I wasn’t prepared then, and I’m not prepared now. But…

Lee looks off toward the entrance to the city, taking in the many busybodies going about in their preparations. Ordinary everyday people prepare to fight for their lives and the lives of those whom they love and care for.

These people saved me.

Resolve. This singular emotion was something Lee had never really felt before his time on Pallesia, but it currently shines brightly in his glowing blue eyes. His posture straightens, and Lee responds to Anix. “Both.”

Anix gives Lee a grandfatherly smile. “Honesty suits you. Let’s get back to the fortification lines. There will some people aiming to obtain their classes today, maybe you can keep an eye on them?”

Lee nods. “I had Neia and Ruven to help me get my class. I’ll return the favor.”

Anix leads the way back to the main encampment, and Lee follows.

Arriving at the encampment side by side, Anix leads Lee to a vast group of elves outfitted in dark leather armor. They are roughly the same age as Ruven, their mid-twenties. Turning his head toward Lee, Anix speaks. “This is the group aiming to get their classes. They will be up on the wall there.” Anix points to the wooden rampart. “If you get recalled to help in Anya’s tent, stop by and ensure they’re doing okay.”

Deciding that this was a simple request, Lee agrees. “I’ll be sure to do that.” Looking around at the elves finishing their hasty preparations, he asks a question. “Do you have any idea when the monsters will arrive?”

Anix's eyes turn hard as he turns to look at the tree line. “Soon, fifteen to thirty minutues if the scouting report was correct.”

“I’ll go to my position for now. Stay safe, Anix.” Lee raises his hood on his Robes of the Genesis and walks off back into the field of barricades, mentally preparing himself for the upcoming battle.

As Lee walks through the field, he begins to take in all the other people here for the battle. Their faces range from worried to excited. Lee thinks about how he must look to them. Slowing his steps, he takes out his hand mirror. Gazing into it, he sees that his face is one of those worried, but his eyes give a different meaning altogether. Fear.

Clamping his eyes closed, Lee stores his hand mirror back into his Hidden Cache and gathers his emotions.

It’s okay to be scared. Everybody is probably scared deep down.

Opening his eyes once more and looking around for a proper position, Lee spots an area just behind a slowly forming line of melee combatants and walks over to their rear. One of the older elves in the midst of a conversation catches Lee’s approach and makes his way over toward him.

Lee gives a polite smile, the best he can given the circumstances, and speaks to the elf approaching from a few meters away. “I’m going to be a combat support. Would this be a good position?”

The elf stops and looks Lee up and down with warm purple eyes. “That’s perfectly fine; the name’s Jud.” Jud extends a hand for a handshake.

Jud appears to be in his late twenties, with short white hair done with a small top-knot, which is a rarity from what Lee has seen from the elves, and equipped with a long wooden spear with an ornate silver slicing tip. He wears a standard set of leather armor, not darkened by whatever the dark elves typically use, also a rarity from what Lee has seen.

Lee shakes Juds hand and feels the strength from Jud's vice-grip grasp. Lee jumps slightly from surprise as Jud chuckles. “Calm down, Lee. The fighting hasn’t started just yet. You stand around here and do what you do best.”

As Jud finishes his statement, he quirks an eyebrow and grins as he turns toward the treeline. A second passes before more elves turn their heads as well. Lee was about to ask if the monsters were coming when he felt a tingling sensation cover his body. At that moment, he innately knows that something is coming. Lee also turns to face the tree line.

Waiting in silence for a few seconds, Lee swings his gaze quickly from the treeline to all around the clearing, trying to estimate how many people were here to defend Neldam. Scanning around, his best guess is somewhere around a thousand.

Swiveling his head back to the tree line, Lee awaits the start of the battle. His palms are sweaty, his heart is pounding, and his breathing quickens. A few seconds pass as everyone watches on in complete silence.

Slowly a rumbling sound emanates from within the Shadowgrove and begins increasing in intensity. The many Amethyst Willow’s twisting branches and purple leaves begin to vibrate and shake. Everybody in the clearing grips their weapons more tightly, and their eyes harden in absolute focus.

The first thing to emerge from the forest is a tall, towering humanoid monster. Standing roughly four meters tall and coated in vile warts, pus-filled nodules, and dark swampy green skin. Its long thin arms, tipped with sharp black claws, dangled down past its narrow frame. Its dark beady eyes scanned the clearing, showing intelligence, and its long hooked nose sniffed around.

The rumbling still continued on, sounding as if a stampede was approaching.

Lee stands stock still as he takes in the appearance of what he assumes to be the sapient leader of this monster siege.

Jud turns his head to look at Lee and gives a piece of advice. “That’s a Troll. Inspect what you can while you can. It doesn’t matter if it notices your attempt now. You don’t want to fight something out of your league mid-battle.” Turning back to the monster, Jud finishes his advice. “It’s level seventy-eight.”

Lee swallows, trying to wet his drying throat as his hands start to shake, as he watches Goblins and Hobgoblins slowly emerge from the treeline, numbering what must be in the thousands. Among them are other Trolls and what Lee assumes to be a Giant.

The Giant was, as its name suggested, colossal. Eclipsing the Troll in height, the Giant easily reaches upwards of ten meters tall, and its husky frame alluded to its monstrous strength. The body is covered in fat and scars, and the tanned olive-colored skin juxtaposes them with their green counterparts. The Giant wielded the trunk of an Amethyst willow in one hand, perfectly suited for a club of preposterous proportions.

The monsters stand slightly behind the Troll, which was the first to arrive. They candidly stood and swept their gaze among the defensive measures lined up in the field.

Lee’s knees are now shaking from fear. He calls out to Jud in an unsteady tone. “What are they doing?”

Jud calmly and quietly responds without moving his gaze from the leader Troll. “The Troll is determining if they can win.”

Lee looks about the clearing, eyes their defenses, then turns back to Jud. “Can they?”

Jud, face unmoving, side eyes Lee with eyes of utter and complete focus. “I don’t think so, but they will try. Be prepared.”

Lee stared at the leading Troll, waiting for its decision. The Troll watched over the clearing for a few moments longer, then turned and walked back toward the monsters behind them.

A Hobgoblin walked forward, carrying a long wooden staff tipped with the skull of an Owlbear. The feathers of the owlbear are attached midway through the staff's handle, creating an area to hold comfortably. Grabbing the staff, the Troll turned back to its original position. The Troll looked to its left and right, eyeing its army.

Lee watches with bated breath as slowly, a vicious perverse smile sprung upon its face. The Troll heaves the staff into the air and lets loose a deep reverberating bellow.

At this very moment, all the monsters swarmed their way directly into the clearing.