The cold wind howled through the trees, but it wasn't the weather that made the air so heavy. One by one, groups began arriving —
Armored boots marched in rhythmic unity as the Knight Guard stepped into the clearing. Their silver insignias gleamed faintly, but even they couldn't hide the tension etched into every face. Soon after, adorned in holy regalia and flowing robes, the Holy Kingdom's clerics arrived, their solemn chants barely masking the fear in their steps. And then came the elite mages — robed in layered silks that shimmered with faint mana — sent directly from the Mage Tower itself.
All of them gathered around the center where Seraphina stood, her presence as composed as ever. Beside her, Luca stood silent, steady — but inside, his heart hadn't stopped racing.
The first to speak was the Knight Guard's lead — a tall man with dark eyes, his armor bearing the mark of a lion's crest. His voice was firm but cold.
