Entering the guild premises, the trio could already spot groups of people moving towards the Atrium of Founders.
While they were walking, Nolan the water flask in his hand slip away. Turning, he was surprised by who it was.
"Morning Master," said Alexander, with a serious face. "I'll hold it for you. You have not to worry about."
"Uhhh," Nolan looked at the boy, speechless and arching a brow.
Liana turned and spotted Alexander. Her expression became serious and she saw Nolan's flask in his hand. "He threatened the boy and made him a slave?" she muttered to herself.
"What did you say?" Cedric asked.
"Oh—nothing. Let's carry on," she replied.
"Where's this coming from? What do you want?" Nolan frowned at Alexander.
"What do I want? Oh no, don't get me wrong. You said I'll be working for you, so… isn't this what servants do?" Alexander replied, innocently.
What Nolan meant was he was going to use him for some things. He didn't actually think the boy would come up the next morning like a loyal servant.
Nolan collected his flask and turned back to face where he was walking to. "Just get to the Atrium as informed."
Alexander nodded. 'He doesn't trust me yet. I'll make sure to be a trustworthy servant. Hm,' he thought.
Getting to the massive hall where all the guild members were gathered, Elite Vordd, Elite Loretta and Lady Eva who looked like she hated every second up there, stood on the dias with Elites Melvin and Sebastian standing behind them.
As Elite Loretta stepped forward, the murmurs in the Atrium of Founders died instantly. Her voice, though not loud, carried to every corner of the stone hall, sharp and clear.
"Guardians."
She let the silence hang for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the assembled recruits and ranks.
"The situation has changed. The predictions we held… were optimistic."
She paused, letting the weight of the admission settle.
"Demonic movements are no longer random. They are becoming coordinated and strategic. A significant force, led by ranked demons, is gathering along the Dark Woods. Their target is most likely the outer villages. Their goal is our doorstep."
She didn't need to elaborate on the consequences. Every person in the room could imagine the slaughter.
"Training missions are suspended. All Novice and Sentinel ranks are now on active garrison and patrol duty within Clover City's outer defenses. Some may be dispatched to villages alongside defense teams. Your training will continue in the field. Consider this your graduation."
Her eyes scanned the crowd, stopping for a split second on certain faces—Nolan's group, her eyes lingering on him for a little longer. She didn't know why, but she felt as if something was just strange about him, yet he looked normal.
"Guardian-ranks and above, you will be deployed to the front. To the villages in the path of this horde. We do not have the luxury of time. We must meet this threat before it reaches our homes. Though the Phoenix and Clover guild have already started deploying their defense teams. We will be fighting alongside the normal guilds."
She took a final, slow breath, her knuckles resting on the podium.
"The time for preparation is over. The war is here. Do your duty."
With that, she turned and walked back, accompanied by Lady Eva and Vordd.
Nolan stood there quietly as murmurs erupted in the hall once again. He put a hand on his chin, thinking it through.
This was supposed to be two years later. Why now? For every single life he's lived, whether he came to Cloveland or not, this was always two years later.
"What exactly is it with this regression?" He mumbled. For a split second, an image flashed in his memory and Nolan's jaw clenched and his grip on the water flask hardened, his eyes becoming focused, but there was a deep seated anger in them.
Only one word left his mouth as he frowned.
"Kraxus."
… …
Later that day, the guild was busy. People training tirelessly.
The training dome was filled up to the brim, and some had to wait for turns to switch.
Luckily, Alexander secured a concrete segment for Nolan, just in case Nolan wanted to train.
At the time they got there, the dome still had room, so Nolan Cedric and Liana went on, trying to find a good terrain when Alexander called out from afar, towards the ending of the dome. "Master!" He waved.
"Goodness," Nolan muttered, hiding his face. Why was the boy calling him Master openly like this? Just why?
Liana and Cedric turned to Nolan who acted as if he was watching a sparring match that was talking place beside him.
Alexander noticed this and quickly flipped it. "Mister! Mister!"
"Nolan, I think the boy's calling out to you," said Cedric.
Nolan turned as if he was just spotting the boy. "Oh, he is? Okay, let's go."
"I thought I heard Master at first," Cedric laughed, following Nolan.
Liana on the other hand knew she didn't mishear it. It was Master. "Just what is he doing to this boy?" she whispered, walking behind both men.
As they got there, they realized Alexander wasn't the only one who was there. Sylvia Volksnon was there with him.
Liana grinned widely as she saw Sylvia and so did Sylvia. Both girls exchanged a hug while Nolan and Cedric exchanged confused glances before going into the segment.
"I heard you hit your head and passed out yesterday. Is it true?" Sylvia asked as she released Liana.
"Yes," Liana nodded.
Sylvia then turned to Nolan who was checking a sword. "Oh… so, he wasn't lying," she whispered.
Cedric still curious asked how Nolan knew Alexander and he said the kid just wanted to learn.
"You do seem to know more than say. I won't lie, ever since day one, I felt like you're different. I didn't expect you to me ranked a Novice even," Cedric admitted.
"Because he's not," Sylvia's voice came from the side.
Both men turned to her as she approached with Liana. She stopped right in front of Nolan, not caring about the proximity, locking focused eyes with him. "I know you aren't as weak as you prove. A matter of fact. We all know."
They were expecting him to try defend himself or explain, but… Nolan was Nolan. Unpredictable.
He smiled. "That saves me stress," he said, walking to the bench by the side and sitting there. "Maybe I'm not as weak as I prove, like you said. But I'm still weak. Not for long though. However it is, what do you plan to do about it?"
Sylvia tilted her head, walking over to him. "What are you hiding?" she asked.
At this moment, Cedric was the most lost person here. Sylvia was questioning him based on gut feeling, while Liana and Alexander witnessed his capabilities firsthand.
He watched as the spectacle unfolded.
Nolan chuckled lightly. "What am I hiding? More like what are 'you' hiding?"
Sylvia's expression loosened, just a fraction, but not easily noticeable. "Don't try to—"
"What are you doing in the Cerulean Guardians, Sylvia Masett Volksnon?" Nolan cut her off, emphasizing every one of her names, voice leveled, eyes focused.
And for that very moment, Sylvia's heart skipped a beat.