When I entered Merlin Hall for my final exam on Risan and Human Physiology, students were racing around in a flurry of panic. It wasn't the typical mad scurry before exams, though. Wizards strode through the hallways carrying bejeweled staffs, and Fighters sharpened battle axes and swords in the workshops.

Furrowing my brow in confusion, I caught bits and pieces of rabid conversation.

"Come on, Sarah!"

"...the Gatál."

"...get those bastards before..."

"Get your staff!"

"Damn it, I left my ax..."

I caught the attention of a fourth-year Wizard sauntering towards me with a determined frown, her battle staff at the ready.

"Excuse me, what's going on?" I asked.

"Haven't you heard?" she asked with a furrowed brow. "The Gatál have marched into the Neutral Zone. Not only with their army, but with Shadow Riders and dragons as well."

"What?" I exclaimed, wide-eyed. "Where?"

"They've already claimed the cities of Tollen, Neustadt, and Gersten."

"Oh, my gods!"

Bragda.

"And now they're attacking the small agricultural villages nearby," she added.

My heart protested wildly against my ribs, and my breath caught in my throat. "Where are they now?"

"Some backwater town, I don't know," she said with an irritated shrug. "Halten? Hallen? Something like that."

"Halden," I breathed.

"Look, lady, I gotta go." She pointed her staff in the direction of the portal chamber. "The Masters are calling all third- and fourth-years as the first line of defense."

Peter!

She raced down the hallway before she whipped around and added, "By the way, exams are canceled, first-year, so go back to your dorm and wait for instructions."

As soon as the Wizard rounded the corner, I ran to the classroom, ignoring her suggestion. I expected to find the Professor and Peter, but they were nowhere to be seen. Only a few first-year Healers sat squirming in their seats. From the lack of last-minute cramming, I could tell that my fellow students had already heard the news.

A heavy weight pressed upon my chest. Maybe Peter and the Professor had already left for the front.

Please, gods, give me the chance to say goodbye to him.

"What do we do now?" Marcus asked. "We can't just sit on our asses while the Neutral Zone falls to the Gatál."

"Professor Petrescu said to wait," Alicia replied in an officious voice. "She'll give us further instructions in a few minutes."

Alicia turned to me, both curious and scared. "Have you heard any news?"

"The Gatál have attacked Halden," I said in a daze as I slumped into a nearby chair.

"Halden?" She gave me a confused look. "Where in Hades is that?"

"Close to the city of Tollen," I replied. "All my extended family and friends live there."

And Bragda's going to that hellhole today.

A part of me wondered if I should find her and warn her. If anything, the invasion would make her even more resolute.

"We need to fight beside them," Marcus said. "We can't just sit in our dorms like cowards."

"We're Healers," Alicia retorted. "We have no combat skills! Even if we did, we swore never to take a life."

"This is self-defense, you fool! The Gatál are dragon-stepping through the Neutral Zone like a hot knife through butter."

"Taking a life is never justified. We're pacifists."

"Hey!" I shouted, and both of them whipped their heads towards me. "Let's just wait and see what the Professor and Pet--Mr. Sardon have to say about it."

Before Marcus could retort, the door flew open, and Professor Petrescu entered the room, followed closely by Peter, both of whom were no longer dressed in formal Healer robes. They wore combat fatigues with green Healer armbands--a green cross on a white background--the universal sign of combat medics.

The camouflage suited Peter, but it seemed misplaced on my pacifist professor.

When the Professor stood behind the lectern, the class fell more silent than they did during an exam. They waited for news with bated breath.

"As I'm sure you are aware," Professor Petrescu declared, "the Gatál have broken the Non-Aggression Pact with the Free World this morning."

Some of the students grumbled amongst themselves, possibly because it was the first official news they'd heard.

"They have marched into the Neutral Zone," she continued, "and the major cities have fallen."

"Bastards," Marcus muttered under his breath.

"Many of you have families in the cities and surrounding villages, and I know you are probably tempted to fight." The Professor drew a deep breath. "I encourage you to remember your oath."

Alicia nodded, but Marcus' eyes glittered with righteous determination.

"You are all adults and can choose your own path, but remember that even the best of you have a weak knowledge of sorcery at the moment." She cast a cursory glance at me, and my face reddened. "However, we are gratefully accepting volunteers to assist us in the field infirmary."

The students began to murmur among themselves, and Marcus turned to me. "That's it?" he muttered in an angry whisper. "We get to watch our friends die? Can you believe this?"

"Those of you who wish to fight may do so without incurring a black ribbon," she said as she drew herself ramrod straight. "If you do, you must give up Healing for life and place your green ribbon here on the desk."

"That's what I'm talking about," he whispered to me under his breath.

"Do you even know how to fight?" I whispered, wide-eyed.

"Yeah, my older brother is a Fighter, and we practiced together for years."

"That's target practice. It's not the same thing on the field."

"Mr. Negrescu, Ms. Alta, do you have a question?" the Professor asked with a pointed stare.

"No, thank you, Professor," I replied as Marcus shook his head.

"Very well," she said with a sigh. "Those who wish to join the fight as Warriors must give up their ribbons now. You will receive your weapon of choice at the portal before you leave."

Squaring his shoulders, Marcus stood up, removed his green ribbon, and tossed it on the desk. "Sorry, Professor, but my family needs me."

"Your decision saddens me," she replied, "but I understand."

Five other students stood up afterward and removed their green ribbons as well. Alicia remained firmly seated.

"Allie, come on," Marcus said, gesturing at the door. "My family is in danger."

"No, Marc," she answered, shaking her head. "You know what I think about combat."

He looked crestfallen. For the past month, he'd courted her, and her rejection probably felt like a betrayal.

"But, Allie..."

"Just go," she hissed, turning her head away.

"Mr. Negrescu, please escort the others to the portal chamber for transport to the fields of Halden," Professor Petrescu said. "I believe Ms. Boldea has decided to stay."

With a growl of frustration, Marcus turned to the other five students. "Follow me, comrades."

A tear trickled down Alicia's cheek after he'd left. "Goodbye, Marc," she whispered under her breath.

Once they had left, the Professor turned to the remaining fifteen of us. "Your exams are canceled for today. What stands before you is a true test of character. Today you can choose to help your country as a Healer on the battlefield."

Some of the back-row students groaned in dismay. Many Healer initiates followed an Oath of Non-Aggression like Alicia. They studied Healing to work in infirmaries and hospitals.

"For those of you who wish to conscientiously object," she continued, "you may remain on campus without prejudice, and you will be issued a make-up exam later in the semester."

A few sighs of relief swept across the class.

The Professor leaned forward against the podium. "Those of you who decide to stand and assist us in the infirmary will receive a perfect grade with highest honors in lieu of an exam."

A wave of surprised murmurs swept across the class until the Professor added, "Just be very aware that the field--even in the infirmary--is extremely dangerous."

"Could we die?" Alicia asked, as diplomatic as ever.

I knew she asked for the benefit of the other students. She would never choose to go, even to heal.

"Yes, Ms. Boldea," the Professor replied. "Make no mistake."

"Can we do anything to help?" a back-row student asked. "We're just first-years, after all."

"You will fetch supplies and tonics as well as heal minor wounds and abrasions."

"That way, we can focus on the more serious injuries," Peter added.

My fellow classmates began to murmur once again, arguing amongst themselves about the pros and cons. I cast a cursory glance at Peter, who stared at me as if to gauge my reaction. His eyes had that cold, hard, determined look that meant he was ready for battle.

The Professor gestured towards the door. "All those who wish to remain on campus may leave. The rest of you will follow me to the Healer portal."

Half a dozen of the remaining students stood up and left the classroom with Alicia. I didn't blame them. Many of them abhorred combat on principle. Others lived in Minningen, and tiny villages like Halden probably seemed light years away.

They had no incentive to risk their lives just to avoid a test.

My clairvoyance had shown me this future, a future I'd chosen to ignore. A future I'd written off as terrors due to exam stress. And my friends and family--my people--were paying the price.

Bragda was right. I'd brought this horror upon myself, but at least I could act now.

I decided to go to Halden.