Frozen Flame of Dawn

With that, he handed the clipboard back to Sophie and stepped away, watching as the squads began to disperse into their new leadership clusters—some speaking, some moving silently into formation.

Soon fifteen minutes passed by, and the sun was now high enough to gleam off the steel of weapons, helmets, and vehicle panels. The flags of their squads—recently stitched, barely worn—fluttered in the wind like they belonged there all along.

A final clang of the loading ramp echoed across the compound, sharp and decisive, as the last transport vehicle sealed shut. Crates of supplies, reinforced cases of spare communication gear, fuel canisters, water tanks, and compact medical units had been double-checked and locked in.

Around them, the steady hum of awakening engines rippled through the compound, sending brief tremors through the packed earth beneath their boots. The convoy was ready.

"Now—sync your comms. Check your weapons. Once the convoy is in position, we move out." Aiden instructed as turned and made his way back toward the lead RV, where his squad would be boarding soon.

The formation broke into organized movement. Boots shifted, belts adjusted, callsigns confirmed across radios. The rising sun glinted off dark armor and chrome as the heavy transports began to line up along the gate road.

The sun was higher now, stretching longer shadows over the northern gate. The wind was cooler out here, tugging lightly at flags mounted along the perimeter wall.

At the top of the northern gate, Amira stood with her arms folded over her chest, her gaze sharp and unwavering. The morning light spilled golden across the stone and steel, and from where she stood, she could see every armored vehicle and personnel transport aligning into position.

Her posture was calm, but her presence was like that of a general watching her legion move into formation. Beside her, Bella leaned slightly against the railing, adjusting her earpiece. The light struck her reddish hair at just the right angle, setting it ablaze like autumn fire.

A few new recruits standing near the control tower caught sight of her and blinked—part stunned by her sharp beauty, part awestruck by the sheer authority she carried. The soft breeze caught at the loose strands of her hair and her coat, adding an effortless flair to her presence.

Though she looked composed, Bella's reputation was already well-earned. Those who had faced her in training knew just how fast that composed demeanor could shift into fierce discipline. They admired her not just for her beauty, but for strict and strong nature.

"They're ready," Bella murmured, her voice smooth but edged with pride.

Amira gave a subtle nod. Her eyes remained fixed on the line of armored RVs and trucks slowly pulling into convoy order. This was the largest deployment they had ever authorized. A full-scale northern recon. More than just a mission—it was a statement.

"He handled the squad division well," Bella added, her tone shifted thoughtful as she looked down at the formation. "No resistance, no second-guessing. They fell into their roles like the unit had existed for years."

Amira didn't respond immediately. She was watching the rhythm, the clean symmetry of the formation. The assault squads moving into point, defense locking into side coverage, auxiliary prepping their supplies, and support units already coordinating fallback zones and sensor checks.

From above, it looked like a fortress in motion—an army wrapped around its people. "He didn't just assign positions," she said quietly. "He earned their trust. The members of old dragon unit, the new recruits and even our Phoenix unit members. They're not just following orders but following him."

Bella glanced at her, as the corner of her lip twitching.. "You almost sound impressed."

"I am," Amira allowed herself a small smile. "It isn't easy to unify three different types of fighters under one banner, let alone people who hadn't even met before the surge. He didn't force them to follow him. He made them want to."

Below them, the giant iron gate creaked open with a groan that sent echoes down the length of the wall. Engines revved in response. The lead vehicle surged forward slowly, followed by the rest, falling in line with the grace of a well-rehearsed performance.

Below them, the convoy began to move as engines rumbled and wheels turned. The front gate creaked open with the sound of age and grit giving way to motion as the lead vehicle surged forward slowly, followed by the rest, falling in line with the grace of a well-rehearsed performance.

Dust rose as tires churned over the dirt road, and the convoy began to disappear one by one into the northern horizon.

Amira exhaled, barely audible. "Good luck out there."

With that, she turned, boots clicking softly against the stone walkway as she walked back into the stronghold. Bella lingered just a second longer before nodding to herself and following behind.

Three Hours Later

Beyond the fortified walls, the landscape no longer looked like something once civilized as it had changed drastically. The open fields once farmed had grown wild—tall wild grasses grew in tangled patches curling upward to waist height, in some places taller.

The broken highway they followed was cracked and buckled in places, as thorny shrubs burst through cracks in the fractured asphalt while nature slowly reclaim. This had once been a clean route to the northern provinces was now an uneven mess of splits and dips.

The convoy pressed forward along what was left of it.

If it had been smaller vehicles—civilian sedans, old supply jeeps or any two-wheeler—they would've been stuck in less than a mile. But their heavy transports, with large reinforced wide tires and reinforced armored suspensions, gripped the ruined road without issue—crunching through the smaller obstacles with ease.

Inside the lead-armored RV, nestled just behind the heavy transport units securing the convoy's perimeter, the low hum of engine vibration mingled with the soft static of radio chatter. This RV wasn't just built for utility—it was built to command. Reinforced walls, bulletproof windows, and reinforced tires could take a beating, but inside, it was the picture of efficiency and quiet comfort.

Aiden sat in the back cabin, arms folded loosely as he leaned into the corner of a plush, cushion-lined bench. The space was larger than most military command vehicles—almost luxurious—with polished steel walls, a compact kitchenette along one side, a sleek black mini-fridge, a small sink, and a private washroom tucked behind a sliding door. A wide table sat at the center, secured and bolted to the floor, its surface cluttered with maps, tablet screens, and a few half-drunk coffee mugs. Every surface had been strapped down, every edge padded for safety during travel.

The atmosphere inside was focused but calm.

Around the table, Sophie sat opposite Aiden, her brows drawn in sharp concentration as she reviewed the latest updates from the comms unit. Her fingers flew across the touchscreen display while her earpiece buzzed with occasional bursts of chatter. She barely blinked as she muttered tactical notes under her breath.

Also seated in the backroom were Tommy, Liam, Mira, and Yvonne—each a newly appointed captain of their respective units, representing the raw muscle and calculated minds of the entire operation.

Tommy, already half-sprawled across one end of the cushioned seat, had his comm unit balanced on one knee, talking to his defense squads in a voice that was both commanding and somehow still lazy.

Liam sat upright near the corner, back perfectly straight, adjusting his gloves as he listened through his comm headset, saying nothing but taking in every movement with the calm intensity of someone who was born for formation battle.

Mira's eyes were fixed on a tablet displaying the energy signature mapping of the route ahead—an auxiliary tool she'd designed to pick up any irregularities in terrain or spiritual energy flow. Her finger scrolled over the peaks and shallow dips, zooming in where the large grown vegetation brushed too close to the road.

Yvonne, who had taken command of the support unit, was focused but thoughtful. She was the kind of woman who noticed the small details. She kept adjusting the comm frequency dials on her wrist-mounted device while simultaneously taking notes on a compact datapad, making sure each subsection of the support team was linked into a stable grid.

The tension in the air wasn't uncomfortable—it was calculated, shared. Like the brief stillness before a coordinated breath.

Then a soft beep chirped from the console mounted beside Aiden. He didn't flinch—just reached forward and tapped the green-lit button. The speaker crackled before a voice filtered through, a little garbled by road hum but recognizable.

"Sir," came the young recruit's voice over the speaker, a little fuzzy with static. He was the one driving their RV, and though his voice trembled slightly, it carried the crisp professionalism of someone trying hard to do everything right. "We're about to cross the last marker of the cleared zone. Another three to four kilometers over the ridge, and we'll be past the last transmitter."

Aiden gave a short nod. "Acknowledged."