The next day:
- 'Captain Köflik! Lord Foster!'
The shout echoed across the large clearing, immediately attracting the attention of the warriors on duty. Köflik, who was supervising a patrol, turned his head sharply before rushing towards the new arrivals.
Foster, still on his promontory, observed the scene from a distance before rising slowly, sensing an unusual tension in the air.
He descended calmly, his footsteps echoing softly on the still fresh ground of the city's new foundations. When he reached the small group, he immediately saw the faces marked by urgency and concern.
- 'Speak up.'
One of the scouts, a dark-haired elf with piercing eyes, took a step forward, trying to catch his breath after their frantic ride.
- 'Lord Foster, Captain Köflik...' He inhaled deeply, fighting the urgency of his own words. 'We have spotted a huge army of Obscurus massed at the edge of the forest, some thirty kilometres from here.'