The night in Vailor was silent.
After returning from the guild, I spent most of my time trying to organize my thoughts, but that was becoming increasingly difficult. The reports about demonic movements remained stuck in my mind.
Something really was happening.
And I could feel it clearly now.
The worst part wasn't the fear.
It was the feeling of waiting.
As if something were slowly approaching while I still couldn't fully see what it was.
Dinner that night was quieter than usual.
Even the girls seemed to notice that the atmosphere was different.
Scarlet joked less.
Elara was more thoughtful.
Liriel observed the surroundings in silence.
Vespera seemed even more alert than normal.
Lyannis continued flipping through books while reflecting on the guild's reports.
Rai'kanna frequently looked up at the sky through the main hall window.
I tried to act normally, but even I knew it wasn't working very well.
After the meal, some servants began cleaning the hall while we headed to the mansion's main balcony.
The night wind drifted slowly through the gardens.
The city's lights shone in the distance, creating a peaceful feeling that completely contrasted with the weight inside my head.
I rested my arms on the balcony railing, looking out over Vailor.
Scarlet stopped beside me.
"You're worse since we came back from the guild."
"I can't even deny that."
"Thinking about the First General?"
I slowly nodded.
"The demons aren't moving randomly anymore."
Liriel appeared just behind us.
"The demonic mana around the kingdom has definitely increased."
Elara sighed.
"I hate it when you all start talking about serious things."
"Would you rather we be fighting dragons?" Rai'kanna asked.
"At least dragons show up right in front of us."
Lyannis calmly closed the book she was carrying.
"The demons' problem was never brute strength."
I looked at her.
"Then what?"
"They learn."
That left me silent for a few seconds.
Because she was right.
The demons were changing.
Adapting.
Creating strategies.
The corrupted stones used against the giants had proven that.
Vespera then spoke calmly:
"They're preparing a major attack."
Scarlet crossed her arms.
"Then we'll crush them when they show up."
Her confidence drew a small laugh from Elara.
"You solve everything with force."
"Because it usually works."
Even in that heavy atmosphere, it managed to ease the tension a little.
After talking for some time, we decided to go back inside.
The mansion's corridors were silent.
The servants had already finished practically all of their nightly duties.
I went upstairs alone to my room while the rest of the group remained on the main floor.
As soon as I entered the room, I slowly closed the door behind me.
The place was dark, illuminated only by the faint moonlight streaming through the windows.
I walked to the table beside the bed and placed my sword on it.
For a few seconds, I simply stared at the blade.
That sword had changed my life.
And at the same time... it seemed to hide far more than I still understood.
I took a deep breath.
Then it happened.
The sword began to glow.
An intense golden light suddenly flooded the entire room.
I immediately stepped back as the mana surrounding the weapon began to grow.
The magical pressure became so strong that even the air felt heavier.
"What now...?"
The light intensified even further.
Then I heard the voice.
The same ancient, heavy voice as always.
"They are advancing."
My expression immediately became serious.
"What does that mean?"
"The demon army has begun to move."
A chill ran through my body.
"The First General?"
"Yes."
The sword's pressure increased slightly.
"He has finally decided to act."
For a few seconds, I stood silently, staring at the glowing blade before me.
Then I asked:
"Where are they heading?"
"Vailor is one of the targets."
My entire body immediately tensed.
"How many?"
"Many."
The short answer was enough to make me even more concerned.
The sword's voice continued:
"The First General has been gathering troops for a long time."
"The previous attacks were merely preparation."
I immediately remembered the kingdoms.
The giants.
The cyclopes.
The destroyed villages.
The demonic movements.
So it had all truly been part of something larger.
The sword glowed again.
"This time will be different."
I slowly clenched my hand.
"I've faced armies before."
"Not one like this."
That answer bothered me.
A lot.
"What do you mean?"
"The First General is no longer testing you."
The room fell silent for a few seconds.
Then the sword spoke again:
"Now he wants war."
At that moment, I heard rapid footsteps outside.
The bedroom door opened shortly afterward.
Scarlet entered first.
"What happened?!"
The golden light still dominated the room.
Liriel appeared right behind her along with the others.
Lyannis's expression immediately changed when she noticed the sword's magical pressure.
"The spirit has awakened again..."
Rai'kanna looked directly at the sword.
"This isn't normal."
Elara crossed her arms, trying to hide her concern.
"What did it say?"
I took a deep breath before answering:
"The demon army has begun advancing."
The room fell silent.
Vespera narrowed her eyes slightly.
"They're finally going to attack."
"Apparently."
Scarlet immediately stepped forward.
"Then let's put an end to this already."
Even at that moment, she remained firm.
That was impressive.
Liriel slowly approached the sword.
"Its mana is very unstable."
Lyannis nodded.
"The spirit is reacting directly to the demonic movement."
Rai'kanna looked at me.
"And the First General?"
"He's coming."
The atmosphere in the room immediately grew heavy.
Even Elara became serious this time.
"So it was true..."
The sword glowed again.
Everyone immediately looked at it.
Then the voice returned.
"The time of peace is over."
The magical pressure spread throughout the entire room.
Liriel's hair swayed slightly from the mana.
Even Rai'kanna looked uncomfortable with that intensity.
"The First General is prepared."
I stared directly at the sword.
"And so am I."
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
Then the voice responded slowly:
"I hope you are."
The golden light gradually began to fade after that.
The magical pressure slowly disappeared until the room returned to normal.
The silence remained.
Scarlet was the first to break it.
"So now it's official."
"Yes."
"The war is coming."
I slowly nodded.
Lyannis began thinking out loud.
"If they're truly advancing on a large scale, then they've probably already started movements near the borders."
Liriel looked worried.
"The amount of demonic mana really has increased over the last few days."
Elara slowly exhaled.
"I hate it when these predictions turn out to be right."
Vespera rested her hand on the dagger at her waist.
"It doesn't matter how many come."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"We've faced worse."
Maybe.
But this time felt different.
Very different.
Because now I could feel it clearly.
The First General wasn't just sending monsters.
He was coming personally.
And that changed everything.
After spending some time discussing possible attacks and movements, the girls finally began leaving the room.
Scarlet was the last one to stop at the doorway.
She stared at me for a few seconds before speaking:
"You're going to make it."
I looked at her.
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because you always do."
She left shortly afterward.
I was alone again.
I slowly approached the window.
The city of Vailor remained illuminated beneath the peaceful night.
People were probably sleeping without imagining what was approaching.
But I knew.
And the worst part was that... for the first time in a very long time...
Even I was starting to feel a little afraid.
I looked again at the sword, now silent upon the table.
Then I spoke softly:
"I'll always be ready."
But deep down...
Even I didn't know if that was still true.