The night arrived without warning.
The mansion was silent, but not like in the previous days. It was no longer the light silence of rest. It was a different kind. More alert. More aware.
No one said that something had changed.
But everyone knew.
The encounter with the goblins had made one thing clear. It wasn't just about strength. It was organization. Someone was moving pieces.
And that changed everything.
I was alone on the balcony.
The wind was cold, steady, carrying with it a faint scent of damp earth. The sky was clear, but dark enough to hide anything beyond the reach of sight.
The city of Vailor remained alive in the background. Lights on, distant movement, normal routine.
But that was no longer enough to hide what was coming.
"You don't sleep?"
The voice came calmly.
Scarlett.
She approached without making a sound, stopping beside me, looking in the same direction.
"Not now."
"Thinking?"
"Always."
She crossed her arms.
"What you saw today."
"It wasn't common."
"I know."
Silence.
But not uncomfortable.
"Have you faced something like this before?" she asked.
"Not like this."
"Then it's new."
"Yes."
She took a deep breath.
"The group is ready."
"It is."
"But that guarantees nothing."
"It doesn't."
She turned her head slightly.
"You're worried."
"I'm attentive."
"It's different."
"A little."
She nodded.
And stayed there.
Without insisting.
Without pressing.
Her presence was steady.
Constant.
And that… made a difference.
Light footsteps came from behind.
Lyannis appeared first.
"You two look like trouble."
"You noticed too?" I asked.
"Of course."
Rai'kanna came right after.
"We didn't even need to fight to know."
Vespera, Elara, and Liriel approached next.
The group formed naturally.
As always.
But now… more united.
More aligned.
Liriel was direct.
"That wasn't a random encounter."
"No," I replied.
"They were being guided," Elara added.
"With purpose," Vespera said.
Rai'kanna crossed her arms.
"So the question is simple."
"Who?"
Silence.
But not empty.
It was analysis.
Lyannis looked toward the horizon.
"This doesn't look like something small."
"It isn't," I said.
Scarlett kept her gaze fixed on the darkness.
"Did you feel anything beyond them?"
I closed my eyes for a moment.
Took a deep breath.
And then…
there it was.
The presence.
Distant.
But… undeniable.
It wasn't like before.
It wasn't a light pressure.
It was something deeper.
Older.
More… heavy.
I opened my eyes.
"Yes."
Everyone fell silent.
Waiting.
"North."
The word was enough.
Vespera reacted first.
"Distance?"
"Far."
"But coming."
"Yes."
Elara analyzed.
"That explains the goblins' behavior."
Liriel added.
"They're organizing before the arrival."
Rai'kanna smiled slightly.
"So finally something interesting."
Lyannis rolled her eyes.
"You call this interesting?"
"I do."
Scarlett didn't comment.
But her gaze… changed.
More serious.
More focused.
I kept looking at the horizon.
The feeling didn't fade.
On the contrary.
It became clearer.
More defined.
And then…
it came.
The voice.
Direct.
Without sound.
But impossible to ignore.
"Prepare yourself."
I didn't move.
I didn't react outwardly.
But everyone noticed.
Liriel took a step forward.
"You heard it."
"Yes."
"What?"
Brief silence.
"A warning."
Elara frowned slightly.
"From the sword."
"Yes."
Rai'kanna tilted her head.
"That never comes for nothing."
"It doesn't."
Scarlett was watching me.
Attentive.
"So it's not just a feeling."
"No."
Lyannis crossed her arms.
"Great. Peace is officially over."
No one disagreed.
The wind picked up slightly.
As if responding.
Or announcing.
I closed my eyes again.
This time… deeper.
Searching.
Connecting the dots.
The presence.
The goblins.
The direction.
And then… it came.
Clarity.
I opened my eyes slowly.
"The third one."
Immediate silence.
Vespera was the first to understand.
"General."
"Yes."
Elara confirmed.
"Of the demons."
Liriel stepped forward.
"Are you sure?"
"I am."
Rai'kanna smiled.
But this time… different.
"So it's finally here."
Lyannis exhaled slowly.
"This won't be like before."
"No," I said.
Scarlett spoke softly.
"He's already moving."
"Yes."
The group fell silent.
But not out of doubt.
Out of understanding.
That moment…
was the end of something.
And the beginning of another.
I took a step forward.
The darkness ahead seemed denser now.
More real.
Closer.
"How long?" Liriel asked.
"Not long."
"Direction confirmed?"
"North."
Vespera nodded.
"Then that's where it all begins."
Elara added.
"Or ends."
Rai'kanna rolled her shoulders slightly.
"Finally."
Lyannis looked at everyone.
"Then we prepare."
Scarlett said nothing.
But stayed by my side.
Without stepping back.
Without hesitation.
As part of the group.
As someone who chose to be there.
I kept my gaze fixed on the darkness.
The feeling remained.
Constant.
Undeniable.
Peace was over.
And this time…
it wasn't a premonition.
It was certainty.
What was coming…
had already begun.