Page 120 of Resurgent

“Since then, we've documented similar tactics in seven separate engagements.”

More markers.

“Clowess is using illusions to manipulate troop movement, create false retreats, conceal artillery, disguise assassins, and make entire sections of terrain appear impassable.”

The map zooms toward a small village.

“They've also begun using false civilians. Children, farmers, even our own wounded soldiers.”

The image shows a woman standing in a road wearing a simple apron, discolored from years of use.

“She appears harmless, right?”

The image glitches and for half a second, I see what is underneath: Armor. A blade. A rune embedded beneath the skin at her throat.

“The illusion conceals weapons, armor, and magical signatures.”

Halden steps forward. “And before anyone thinks the answer is simply checking everyone you meet for enchantments—don’t. You won't always have time.”

“That's the entire purpose.”

She brings up another set of images.

“Clowess is no longer fighting battles exclusively on battlefields.”

The images become more disturbing: A supply depot, a communications tower, then even a children’s hospital.

“They are targeting infrastructure.”

A communications tower explodes.

“Information.”

A map burns.

“And our future.”

Fires blaze, shattering windows and leaving no chance for the patients trapped in each room.

The final image shows a darkened room.

“Ghost Walkers have become a primary target,” she says, and that gets everyone's attention. “They know what you are being trained to do, and they are prepared to stop you by whatever means necessary.”

Sasha begins to visibly shake beside me, and I wish more than anything I could reach out and take her hand.

“They've begun deploying counter-Ghost units,” Halden adds, hands clasped behind his back. “Which means your first objective after graduation may not be infiltration.”

His eyes settle on the class as we all hold our breath in anticipation.

“It may be surviving the attempt to infiltrate you.”

Lin changes the image, a small black rune with diagonal marks and circular symbols slowly rotating on screen.

“This brings us to our response: Our spellcasters have been developing a new defensive ward. It’s still classified as experimental, so it’s not yet approved for field deployment.”

The rune expands, then the image shows the rune forming over a human silhouette.

“The mark is designed to create a kinetic barrier immediately beneath the skin. It’s not armor, per se…more like a barrier.”