"Identify yourself!" one of the soldiers shouted, his voice sharp and commanding.
Vale raised his hands slowly to show he was unarmed. "My name is Vale. I just returned from my Second Trial."
"The Second Trial?" The soldier's eyes widened in disbelief. Around him, the others exchanged glances. A low murmur passed through the group before one of them stepped forward.
This soldier was lean, with short-cropped dark hair and a few days' worth of stubble along his jawline. Though worn, his armour was neatly kept, and the sword at his side was polished to a shine. His sharp eyes studied Vale with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.
"You're lucky we found you," he said. "Travelling through these parts alone is a death sentence."
Vale raised an eyebrow. "These parts? Where exactly am I?"
The soldier gave him a puzzled look, then answered slowly, as if weighing each word. "You're in the Fourth Zone—or what's left of it. The fourth barrier has fallen. The third's been damaged."
