After increasing his endurance—and enduring the pain that entailed—Adam still felt a slight stiffness in his muscles, but it was no longer incapacitating.
He had gathered several knights and soldiers at the training ground. Neither Lucas nor the wizard Alaric was present; both were in their respective assigned areas, containing the threat.
Renna remained by his side. Hours earlier, at the mansion, she had asked him to let her face the monsters so she could become stronger.
Adam had agreed without hesitation.
Not out of indulgence.
But because each additional person increased their chances.
His gaze fell to the mana stones laid out on the table, then swept across the tense faces before him. He spoke calmly but firmly.
"I have summoned you to give you mana stones. Use them. Strengthen yourselves with them and distribute them among your comrades. Our territory will not hold out much longer if we remain at a disadvantage."
