Blood and Belief

Cardinal-General Corven is revealed as a traitor who made a dark pact with entities beyond reality. In secret meetings with a shadow demon, he reveals plans to use the war at Valtherion as a catalyst to weaken the ancient seals imprisoning the Wurm Lords.

Tomas arrives at the provincial garrison and begins military training under Centurion Gaius. He bonds with tent-mates: Lucien the carpenter, Marcus the former guard, Helena the revenge-driven volunteer, and Orin the scribe.

Tomas Grenn, a blacksmith from Greenhollow, enjoys a peaceful life with his wife Elsa and two children before receiving a conscription notice. Accompanied by Father Aldous's proclamation of a righteous war against Valorheim's blood mages, Tomas is drafted to fight.

The night before a major assault on the fortress of Valtherion, Aldric confides he knows he will die - he felt his daughter's death. The attack begins at dawn. In the brutal fighting, Aldric is killed by a Karthian officer, fulfilling his premonition.

The war's psychological toll becomes apparent. Petyr has stopped talking, hollow-eyed and empty. The squad has lost and gained members. Aldric receives devastating news - his daughter Lyssa is sick and may be dying. He attempts to desert, is caught, and receives twenty lashes instead of execution.

Sevrin announces another grand ritual requiring twelve volunteer sacrifices in exchange for six hours of invincibility. Twelve soldiers volunteer, including those with nothing left to lose. The ritual is horrifying - twelve throats cut, blood ignited, power distributed.

Weeks of skirmishes and patrols grind the squad down. They capture a Karthian prisoner named Edric, a seventeen-year-old conscript who reveals both sides believe the other worships demons. Cael has a private conversation with Edric realizing they're mirror images.

Abigail fully reveals her golden-eyed powers for the first time in combat. Elianna recognizes her as a fellow Faithful warrior and they synchronize in battle despite never meeting. Abigail faces 40+ vampires alone while forcing Haatim and Emma toward the exit.

First major battle against Karthian forces. Sevrin performs an amplification ritual, boosting the blood magic blessing to superhuman levels. The battle is brutal but Valorheim holds through enhanced strength. Aldric is wounded by a Karthian officer but Mira saves him.