Saeldir stood still for a long moment after the last flicker of the map died.
His thoughts churned heavily and relentlessly. He pressed his lips together, frustration and unease knotting in his chest.
They had worked for a long time perfecting the metal constructs and creating armored guardians and warriors built from Elven ingenuity, Magic engineering, and relentless training.
They were powerful, fast, and efficient. They had saved countless lives.
But against an enemy that could disappear so cleanly and conceal itself so perfectly at the exact moment…
The constructs weren't enough.
Strength alone wasn't the answer this time. What they needed was intelligence, information the constructs couldn't gather.
They needed eyes that could see past these illusions. Minds capable of interpreting what they discovered.
And right now, only Erend might return with that kind of insight.
