Chapter 46: The New Threat

Back above ground, the world seemed different. The shadows on the streets were longer, and the air was filled with an almost palpable tension. The old man and the mage walked in silence through a city that, despite still standing, seemed shrouded in a shroud of unease. The people they passed kept their heads down, as if they sensed the approaching danger but could not identify it.

"This feeling in the air... it's as if the world itself is holding its breath," the mage murmured, his eyes scanning every detail around him.

"Azaroth may not be our immediate enemy," the old man replied, "but his release has awakened something. Something that was dormant along with him, perhaps."

The mage nodded, but his expression was filled with concern. "We need to alert the guilds and prepare the citizens for what is to come. If there is a new threat emerging, we cannot be caught off guard."

They made their way to the city's main guildhall, a sturdy stone building with solid wooden doors that looked as if they had stood the test of time. Upon entering, they were greeted by suspicious looks. Word of the presence of a mage and an outsider had spread quickly, and everyone seemed curious, if wary. In the center of the hall, the guild leader, a burly man with a gray beard and a stern expression, approached. "Do you have anything to say that justifies the disturbance in our city?" The mage was blunt. "We have unleashed an ancient entity, Azaroth, the Twilight Elder. He is not an immediate enemy, but his release is setting in motion a chain of events that could put everyone at risk." The hall was silent for a moment, before the guild leader clucked his tongue in disapproval. "You have come to us to admit that you have unleashed a threat upon our heads, and now you expect our help?" The old man interjected, his voice calm but firm. "We are here because we know we cannot face this alone. The world is changing, and it will not be just this city that will be affected. If we are to survive, we must join forces." The guild leader studied the old man for a moment, gauging the sincerity in his words. Finally, he sighed, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "What do you propose, then? How should we prepare?" "We need to begin training all available fighters," the mage suggested. "And send scouts to the surrounding areas, looking for signs of anomalies or strange changes. Azaroth will not act alone, but others may try to exploit his liberation." The guild leader nodded, still skeptical, but recognizing the urgency of the situation. "I will call a meeting with the other city leaders. If this threat is real, then we have no time to waste." The old man and the mage exchanged glances, both aware that they were only at the beginning of a long and arduous battle. As he left the guild, the old man paused for a moment, looking up at the sky. The clouds seemed darker, as if they sensed the approaching storm.

"We have no choice, do we?" said the mage beside him, the tension evident in his voice.

The old man shook his head. "No. But it's in moments like these that we discover what we're truly made of."

They continued walking, the determination in their hearts the only light that illuminated the path ahead. They knew that time was against them, but they also knew that the future of the world could depend on their next actions.