You didn't hesitate.
With a single, calm snap of your fingers, reality folded around the four of you.
The bustling streets of Hammerhold, the sound of hammers, and the smell of forge-smoke vanished instantly.
POOF.
You, Miya, Lukas, and Liora reappeared directly inside the Azure Kingdom capital's Adventurers' Guild hall — right in the middle of the main floor.
The entire guild went dead silent.
Adventurers dropped their tankards. The receptionist froze mid-sentence. Everyone stared in shock as four powerful figures materialized out of thin air.
Miya's fox ears were still flat with anger, tail lashing. Lukas's shadows coiled darkly around his feet. Liora stayed close to him, looking determined. You stood at the center, radiating that quiet, overwhelming cosmic presence.
The survivors from Eldenwood — the small group of terrified children and three exhausted elders — were huddled in the corner. The moment they saw Miya, their eyes lit up with desperate hope and recognition.
One of the elders struggled to her feet, tears streaming down her wrinkled face.
"Miya…! It's really you! The fox guardian! And… Lord Grim!"
The children started crying openly, reaching out toward Miya.
The old woman continued, voice breaking:
"Our village… Eldenwood… it's gone. Demons came from the sky. Thousands of them. They slaughtered everyone. The barrier you and Lord Grim gave us… it was overwritten by something divine. We couldn't call for help. Most of our people are dead. Only we few children and elders escaped through the old tunnel. We've been walking for days… please… help us. Avenge our home."
Miya's emerald eyes blazed with cold fury. She stepped forward, voice trembling with restrained rage.
"I swore to protect Eldenwood… and I failed you. I'm sorry."
She turned to you immediately, tail still lashing.
"My lord Grim… this was the Goddess. She blocked everything so we wouldn't know. She wants revenge for what happened in the throne room."
Lukas's face was dark, shadows flaring violently. "Big brother… if the Goddess did this, then she just declared war on us."
The entire guild hall was watching in stunned silence. No one dared speak.
The survivors looked at you with pure desperation and hope — the same way they had bowed to you during the celebration months ago.
Miya waited for your command, fists clenched, Starfang humming faintly at her hip.