The sense of calm that hovered over the mansion didn't last long. It was expected. After what happened at the guild the day before, it was clear to me that the world around us wasn't standing still—just waiting for the right moment to move with more force.
That morning, while we were still finishing breakfast, I heard firm knocks on the main door. They weren't hesitant, nor hurried. It was someone who knew exactly why they were there.
I got up without hurry and walked to the entrance. As soon as I opened the door, I found a guild messenger. His straight posture, direct gaze, and the sealed document in his hands made it clear this wasn't something ordinary.
"Takumi. Direct order from the guild. Immediate request for your presence."
I took the document and quickly scanned its contents. It wasn't an invitation, nor a generic notice. It was a summons.
Behind me, I heard footsteps approaching. Liriel appeared first, followed by Elara, Vespera, Scarlett, Rai'kanna, and Lyannis. None of them seemed surprised—just attentive.
"Problem?" Liriel asked.
"Movement," I replied simply. "The guild wants all active adventurers."
Lyannis crossed her arms, a slight smile on her face. "So it's started."
"Not completely," I replied, closing the document. "But it's close."
Scarlett remained silent for a few seconds before speaking. "Is this related to the rumors… or something else?"
I looked at her for a moment. "Rumors don't mobilize entire guilds."
She nodded, understanding immediately.
It didn't take long for us to leave. The path to the guild was different—more crowded, louder, more alert. People spoke in small groups, merchants lowered their voices more than usual, and adventurers walked with more purpose.
As soon as we entered the guild, it became clear the situation was bigger than expected.
The main hall was full. Much more than usual. Adventurers of different ranks occupied nearly every available space. Some were discussing among themselves, others simply stared at the mission board.
And the board… was packed.
Not with common tasks, but with urgent requests.
Village protection.
Elimination of hostile creatures.
Investigation of suspicious movements.
Repeated requests, coming from regions near the kingdom.
"This isn't normal," Vespera commented quietly.
"No, it isn't," I replied.
We approached the board. Papers were overlapping, some freshly pinned by guild staff who barely had time to organize everything.
Elara scanned the missions. "Attacks in three different villages… on the same night."
"Four," Rai'kanna corrected, pointing to another notice lower down. "This one came later."
Lyannis let out a low whistle. "They're getting bold."
"Or organized," I said.
The silence that followed wasn't comfortable.
Scarlett stared at the notices, clearly absorbing every detail. "These reports… aren't just about common monsters."
"No," I replied. "Some mention demons."
She took a deep breath, as if she expected it but still didn't like hearing it.
One of the guild staff approached us. He looked tired, but determined to maintain control.
"Takumi," he said, recognizing me. "We need strong teams taking these missions immediately."
"Since when did this start?" I asked.
"In the past few days," he replied. "But last night… it escalated a lot. Messages keep coming in."
Liriel frowned slightly. "And the other teams?"
The man hesitated for a second. "Some have already left. Others… haven't returned yet."
No one spoke for a few moments.
There was no need.
I looked back at the board. It wasn't just the number of missions that stood out. It was the pattern.
Nearby regions.
Near-simultaneous attacks.
Similar reports.
It wasn't disorganized. It was coordinated.
"Pick a mission," I said, turning to the group. "We need to start somewhere."
"This one," Elara said, pointing to one of the notices. "Small village, to the south. Repeated attacks at night."
"Short distance," Vespera added. "We can go and return the same day."
"If everything goes well," Lyannis added with a half-smile.
Rai'kanna studied the paper for a few more seconds. "Reports of fast creatures… and in groups."
"Testing defenses," I murmured.
Scarlett looked at me. "Do you think this is just the beginning?"
"I'm sure of it," I replied.
I pulled the notice from the board and handed it to the staff member.
"We'll take this one."
He nodded immediately, relieved. "Good. We need quick responses."
"You'll have them," I said.
We left the guild shortly after. Outside, the atmosphere felt even heavier than before. It wasn't open fear, but a constant tension, as if everyone sensed something was wrong, even without knowing exactly what.
As we walked toward the city's exit, I realized something that had until then been only in the back of my mind.
This wasn't an isolated incident.
It wasn't just an increase in monster activity.
It was movement.
And movement, when well-coordinated, always points to something bigger.
Lyannis walked beside me, hands behind her head. "It's been a while since I've seen the guild like this."
"It's been a while since we faced something big," I replied.
"Do you think it's him?" she asked, without needing to specify.
I didn't answer immediately.
But I knew the answer.
"If it isn't," I said finally, "it's leading to him."
The group walked in silence for a few moments. It wasn't uncomfortable. It was focus.
Each of them already understood what was happening, even if we didn't yet have all the answers.
As we passed through Vailor's gates, I looked back one last time.
The city looked the same.
But it wasn't.
Something was changing.
And we were already in the middle of it.
I turned my gaze forward and kept walking.
The guild's summons wasn't just a mission.
It was the beginning of something bigger.
And this time… there was no room to ignore it.