Chapter 10 — The Longest Weeks in Delmar
Delmar had become a city that never slept.
For two full weeks, the narrow streets were filled with the sound of hammers pounding, boots marching, and officers shouting instructions.
Young people who once only knew farming were now training with spears under the strict eyes of veteran soldiers.
Carpenters, who used to build barns and houses, were now building catapults and giant shields.
Every empty house was turned into a simple clinic where healers worked hard, using whatever supplies they could find.
But something strange was happening.
From the first day of preparation, the rain wouldn't stop.
The sky over Delmar stayed gray, and rain flooded the streets, washing away the old symbols carved into the stones.
Every night, lightning flashed — but no thunder followed.
It was as if the sky itself was trying to send a warning.
For many, the endless rain felt like an extra burden.
Children curled up inside their homes, staring at the misty windows with fear.
Young soldiers whispered to each other, wondering if the storm was a bad omen.
Even the elders, who were usually brave, spoke in hushed tones about curses and unseen dangers hiding behind the rain.
Still, everyone pushed themselves to stay strong.
Gavin, the commander, moved from post to post, checking training, fixing defense plans, and reminding everyone of their one goal: to survive.
Lord Renhal Duvane, although older and not a fighter, came to every meeting, giving moral support and keeping supplies moving.
At the town hall's back yard, Lans and Aria also trained hard.
They practiced their special skills, sweating through rain and mud, refusing to give up.
They knew Delmar's survival would depend not just on walls — but on the people's will to keep fighting.
At night, time seemed to slow down.
Each flash of lightning made the city walls cast giant, dancing shadows across the muddy ground.
Sometimes, Lans stood on the walls, staring out into the rainy horizon, wondering when the enemy would come.
Every night, fear and hope battled in everyone's hearts.
But one thing was certain: time was moving forward, and they had to be ready.
Delmar — the once-quiet town — now stood on the edge of its greatest battle.
And beneath the never-ending rain, something bigger than a war was stirring in the air.
In the training yard, Lans and Aria faced each other.
For the past two weeks, they had trained their powers tirelessly.
Lans, once clumsy, could now speed up and slow down small objects with great skill.
Aria could set her arrows and knives on fire, even creating a shield of flames around herself.
Today, they pushed their limits.
"Ready?" Lans asked, spinning his spear.
Aria gave a small smile. "Always."
The sparring started fast.
Aria shot a flaming arrow through the rain, leaving steam in its path.
Lans, now sharper than ever, used his fast-motion to dodge it — making it seem like time slowed around him.
He spun and slowed down her second arrow until it fell harmlessly to the ground.
Aria charged forward, knives blazing.
Lans dodged again and again, moving with lightning speed.
Finally, with one swift move, he caught Aria's attack and pinned her down into the muddy ground.
For a moment, everything was still.
Rain poured over them, soaking their clothes and hair.
Lans looked down at Aria, breathing heavily — then smiled gently.
He knelt beside her, not in pride, but in sincerity.
"No matter what happens," he said softly, "I'll always be in front of you."
Aria, usually quick with words, just stared at him, her cheeks flushing.
Something deep inside her stirred — something stronger than friendship.
She quickly turned away, hiding her smile.
But inside her heart, questions echoed:
Why is my heart racing?
Why do I wish this moment could last forever?
Am I falling in love with Lans?
And under the endless rain, among the mud and heavy breathing, an unspoken promise was born.
For a brief moment, Delmar felt just a little warmer.
Three nights after the sparring match, the mood in Delmar changed.
Gavin called all the commanders and important leaders to gather at the Palace Hall.
The rain still fell, but something in the air felt different — like a thin line between hope and fear.
Lans and Aria stood together with Aven and Lord Renhal, all eyes on Lord Gavin.
A giant map of Delmar lay across a stone table.
"I have two pieces of news," Gavin said, his voice heavy.
"One good, one bad."
He paused, letting the tension grow.
"The good news," he said, looking around, "is that two thousand soldiers from Caldenya have left their capital, Armathen, and are on their way to help us."
Excited whispers broke out.
Relief spread across the room.
"But," Gavin continued quietly, "their journey will take five days."
The mood changed immediately.
Then Gavin pointed to the map.
"Our spies say that the Dravern army — about four thousand strong, with heavy infantry, archers, and cavalry — has crossed the northern lowlands.
They are expected to reach our gates in three days."
Silence fell like a hammer.
"In short," Gavin said firmly, "we must hold out for two full days against a siege — before help arrives."
Everyone looked tense.
Renhal rubbed his temples.
Aven fell deep into thought.
Lans clenched his fists.
Aria took a deep breath to calm herself.
"And there's one more thing," Gavin added, voice low.
"Our scouts have seen... a demon traveling with the Dravern army.
We don't know its full power yet."
The room shifted from tense to fearful.
"We can't let the public know about this," Gavin said sharply.
"All we tell them is that help is coming. We must keep hope alive."
Everyone nodded grimly.
Gavin ended the meeting with strong words:
"Two days. Hold the line for two days — and we have a chance at victory."
As the leaders left the room, Lans looked at Aria.
There was a new fire in their eyes — not just from training, but from something deeper:
A promise that they would not let each other fall.
Outside, the rain kept falling, soaking the ground where battles would soon be fought.
The next morning, a soft fog hung over Delmar.
The rain had calmed to a light drizzle, but the sky was still heavy with clouds.
In the training yard, Lans and Aria checked on the young soldiers, while the sounds of clashing wood and metal filled the air.
Suddenly, a man with messy white hair and pale skin walked toward them, carrying a long spear.
His blue-gray eyes locked onto Lans and Aria.
"I'm looking for Lans Silverkin and Aria," he said in a steady voice.
Lans stepped forward. "I'm Lans. This is Aria."
The man nodded slightly. "My name is Kai Stenvarr.
I'm not here to ask for anything.
I'm here to offer my spear."
Aria frowned. "Why?"
Kai's voice remained calm.
"I come from Aurenval. I grew up near the snowy mountains of Veyrath.
I was raised as a hunter and a fighter.
I don't have magic or special powers, but I know how to fight with this spear better than most."
He looked at his spear deeply.
"Years ago, my village was attacked by Dravern bandits.
They burned our fields and destroyed our homes.
We were saved at the last moment by soldiers from Caldenya.
I owe my life to them.
And now, I can't sit back while the people who once saved me need help."
He planted his spear into the ground with a strong thud.
"I may only be one man," he said firmly, "but one spear can change everything."
Aria felt his honesty.
Lans stayed cautious, but there was something about Kai's calmness that earned a bit of trust.
"Welcome to Delmar, Kai," Aria said, reaching out her hand.
Kai shook it firmly, then nodded at Lans.
A simple gesture, but full of meaning.
Lans and Aria walked away while Kai talk to another soldiers and start training them.
Lans said, "I feel like there's something strange about him. Not something evil or dark, but like he's hiding something."
Aria frowned and replied, "Well, time will tell. If he's not evil, then why should you worry, Lans?"
"You're right," Lans answered.
That night, for the first time in a long while, Delmar felt a little lighter.
Aven, Lans, Aria, Renhal, and Kai gathered at a small tavern inside the Willow Guild.
The old wooden building smelled of hot food, toasted bread, and clinking mugs.
They sat around a round table, covered in roasted meat, soup, and bread.
Tiny candles flickered, casting warm light on their tired faces.
Aven leaned back in his chair, eyes sharp as he looked at Kai.
"Aurenval, huh?" Aven said while chewing meat.
"What brings you from the mountains to a battlefield?"
Kai set down his mug and answered calmly,
"A debt. And maybe... a long-held sense of justice."
Aven nodded, sensing something deeper in Kai — a hidden power that wasn't just skill.
But Aven said nothing... yet.
"Be careful with justice," Aven said with a small smile.
"Sometimes it turns into revenge — and that's a darker road."
Kai smiled slightly, understanding.
Meanwhile, Lans leaned closer to Aven and whispered,
"Aven... do you feel something... about the demon?"
Aven's playful look vanished.
"Yes," he said seriously. "I feel a terrible force moving with them.
It's like the stench of death walking."
Lans felt his stomach tighten, but Aven slapped his shoulder playfully.
"But that's tomorrow's problem," Aven grinned.
"Tonight, we eat, laugh, and live."
They laughed together, and even Kai awkwardly tried to join in a card game taught by Renhal.
Finally, Aven raised his mug high.
"To Delmar!" he shouted.
"To tomorrow!" Renhal added.
"To victory!" Aria cheered.
Their mugs clashed together:
"FOR TOMORROW'S VICTORY!"
Later, as they left the tavern, the rain had stopped.
The wet streets reflected the torchlight.
Lans and Aria walked side by side, letting the others walk ahead.
The air between them was peaceful, comfortable.
Without thinking, Aria moved a little closer.
Lans felt her near — so close his heart started beating faster.
"Thank you, Lans," Aria whispered and smiled.
Lans smiled warmly. "For what?"
"For making tonight feel... like the world hasn't completely fallen apart."
He didn't answer.
He simply held out his hand.
Aria took it, their fingers intertwining warmly in the cool air.
No confessions.
No promises.
Just a silence full of meaning.
And for a moment, on Delmar's wet, empty streets, two hearts found peace in each other... before the coming storm.