"We will help the kingdom of Lunaria," Lenore declared. "Over the course of the week, we will prepare for a trip to help them. Half of the population will come with us. The other half will stay behind and close the doors of the village to avoid problems coming from outside."

Raiden had been living in the village for over a year, a period during which he had grown accustomed to its pace, people, and the small tensions that occasionally surfaced. Despite the village’s activities, which had inevitably led to the creation of numerous enemies, the gates of the village had always remained open. This openness was a testament to their resilience and confidence in handling threats, as well as a reflection of their values in maintaining a sense of community and accessibility.

However, recent developments had forced a significant change. The decision to close the village gates was unprecedented and showed the gravity of the current situation. The approaching war, with its widespread implications and potential for devastating conflict, had made it necessary to adopt more stringent security measures. For Raiden, this shift was a clear reminder of the dire circumstances they now faced.

The closed gates symbolized more than just a physical barrier; they represented the village’s collective recognition of the heightened dangers and the need to protect their people. It was a sobering reality that despite their past successes in navigating external threats, the current war posed a challenge of an entirely different magnitude.

"Since it has come to this, we can talk a bit more about the current situation," Harth said. "The kingdom of Lunaria is quite big and diverse, and while those could be their strengths, it was also a huge disadvantage for them. Working together with a single goal is difficult and thanks to their size, they need a large force to defend their borders."

"Currently, we are positioned south of their territory and we more or less work like a barrier against their enemies on the south," Lenore explained. "It has been decades since the enemies tried to attack us as well. Regardless, the kindgom of Lunaria weakest side is their coast, they don’t have a strong naval force, but their current enemies are raiding their coasts in preparation for a large scale conflict."

Although it wasn’t set in stone, there was a strong chance that Raiden’s first battle would be a naval one. This chance, surprisingly, filled him with a sense of excitement. The idea of engaging in a naval battle stirred something within him, sparking a curiosity and eagerness he couldn’t entirely explain.

However, Raiden knew he shouldn’t feel this way for many compelling reasons. Firstly, he was inexperienced in actual combat, especially in the unpredictable and perilous conditions of a naval battle. The open sea presented unique challenges: the instability of the moving deck, the limited space for maneuvering, and the constant threat of the elements themselves, all of which would test his abilities in ways he had never encountered during training.

Secondly, the stakes of a naval battle were incredibly high. Any mistake could have dire consequences, not just for him, but for his comrades and the mission as a whole like their ship sinking in the middle of the ocean. The thought of his inexperience leading to potential harm weighed heavily on him, decreasing his excitement with a sense of responsibility and caution.

Moreover, Raiden understood that war, in any form, was not something to be taken lightly. Having experienced the horrors of conflict indirectly through his past as a slave, he was very aware of the suffering and loss it brought. The romanticized notion of battle was far removed from the brutal reality he knew awaited him.

At the same time, Lenore couldn’t help but study Iri and Raiden at the same time... there was still one thing that she could do, but she didn’t want to since it would be unfair to the village.

"Are you considering leaving us behind, Mother?" Raiden asked.

"You are troubling sharp," Lenore said.

"Better give up, Mom," Iri said and then shook her head. "What would the others think if you leave us behind for our own safety and take other kids like Raiden instead?"

"I am more worried about the fact of taking you with us... I have the feeling that Raiden won’t be that harsh and reckless," Lenore said.

"I will do my best to keep her out of trouble, so you can focus on your own duties, mother," Raiden said.

"That makes me feel a bit better," Lenore forced a smile.

"Hey, it is supposed to be the other way around," Iri protested.

Just as Lenore had said, the village began its preparations to join the war effort. The atmosphere shifted noticeably as everyone braced for the challenges ahead. Within three days, the once-bustling Tower of Mastery, a place dedicated to honing their skills and training, saw a significant reduction in activity. Only the children younger than ten continued their routine visits.

The scale of the mobilization was immense. A formidable force of five thousand individuals was being assembled, each member meticulously preparing for the impending journey and the battles to come. Weapons were sharpened, armor was inspected and reinforced, and supplies were gathered with a sense of urgency and precision. The village, usually filled with the sounds of daily life and training, now echoed with the clamor of war preparations.

Raiden observed these changes with a mix of excitement and resolve. The closed gates, the halted activities at the Tower of Mastery, and the assembly of such a large force all underscored the gravity of the situation. It was a stark reminder that their way of life was about to be drastically altered by the demands of war.

At the same time, he let his herbs under the care of the healers that he worked before. He did well not in improving their pots further, otherwise, they would have noticed something amiss with them.

"Oh man... why now of all times?" Javier asked while hitting the ground with his feet. "Why we had to deal with this kind of thing again?"

Javier looked annoyed, and Ruth looked troubled. Unlike Raiden who didn’t have memories from the period before the mine where they worked as slaves, they still could recall a lot of things. Their lives at their hometown, their old families... and the day where they lost everything, and the day the hell in their lives started... they didn’t want to experience similar things ever again.

"We will only work on the support of the main force, you won’t have to see anything really bloody or nasty," Raiden said.

"Sorry to say this, but it must be nice to be you, Raiden... and not recall those things that we had endured," Ruth said while showing a really troubled expression. "I can’t even believe that I am saying this."

"Well, I can understand your point of view," Raiden shrugged. "I am just trying to see things from a positive light."

In truth, Raiden’s anticipation wasn’t solely thanks to the thrill of battle. Deep down, he was eager to see his world expand beyond the confines of the village. The reality of war was undeniably harsh, filled with suffering and loss, but Raiden had come to accept it as an inescapable part of human nature.

War, with all its cruelty, was a stark reminder of the complexities and contradictions of humanity. Raiden understood that conflict often arose from deep-seated grievances, ambitions, and the endless struggle for power and resources. These harsh realities didn’t decrease his curiosity; instead, they fueled his desire to understand the broader world and the forces that shaped it.

Everything that was happening were not just signs of impending conflict but also gateways to a larger, more intricate world. Raiden’s acceptance of war’s inevitability did not mean he welcomed it, but rather that he saw it as a catalyst for change and growth.

"... I just hope that we won’t be as hopeless as before in case something happens," Ruth said after a long sigh.

From time to time, kids were born in the village, but most of them came from outside as victims of war. Thanks to that, most of the villagers would have the knowledge and experience to use their Aura Force with responsibility.

Raiden didn’t know if that kind of power was common outside, but he would understand if the people from outside didn’t have that kind of knowledge. It would make sense why then a village of that size was so respected.

In any case, the next few days passed in no time and soon the village got ready to depart. The border with the Lunaria kingdom wasn’t that far away, but they still would have to travel for three weeks to reach their coast. Raiden expected that his mother would give a speech, but the group just began to march... it was a bit too soon for any motivational speech, after all.