The Warlord's Second Life As A Commoner : 014

The Dark Forest was now only a shadow behind them, but the threat described by the old wizard continued to haunt the minds of Lucian and his friends. The ride back to Arcadia Academy was filled with a heavy silence. The wizard's words about the Twilight Order and the Twilight Blade hung like an invisible threat, reminding them that time was running out to stop the dark plans that might soon come to pass.

Upon arriving at the Academy gates, they immediately sensed something unusual. The students were gathered in small groups, talking in excited whispers. Several teachers could be seen in a corner of the courtyard, talking earnestly, their expressions filled with concern. Even Eris, usually full of enthusiasm, found herself growing restless.

"What's going on?" Alden whispered, looking around.

Lucian didn't answer, but his eyes scanned the crowd, trying to find out what was causing the tension. Before they could ask anyone, a senior named Cedric approached with a tense expression on his face.

"You haven't heard?" he asked in a low voice.

"Just hearsay," Eris replied. "What happened?"

Cedric looked around to make sure no one was listening. "Prince Heracles came to the Academy. He brought his personal guard and went straight to the council chamber. They said there was an emergency meeting about a major threat involving the Order of the Twilight."

Alden raised an eyebrow. "Prince Heracles? The one known as the 'Sword of Light'?"

Cedric nodded. "Yes. If he comes in person, it means this is very serious."

Lucian felt his heart pound. Prince Heracles' presence was no coincidence, especially after his encounter with the old wizard in the Dark Forest. It was becoming increasingly clear that the threat from the Order of the Twilight was greater than they had imagined.

"Eris, do you know where the meeting is?" Lucian asked.

Eris nodded. "In the Great Hall. But there's no way we can get in. Security must be very tight."

"I don't want to go in," Lucian said, his eyes narrowing. "I just want to hear what they're saying."

After nightfall, Lucian, Alden and Eris gathered near the Great Hall. The building was magnificent, with a large door guarded by two fully armed soldiers. There was no way to enter without being seen, but Lucian had already thought of another plan.

"We don't have to go in," Lucian said, pointing to a large window on the side of the building. "We just have to find a place to listen."

They climbed carefully up the side of the building, using the shadows to hide their presence. Eris cast a soundproofing spell to ensure that their footsteps would not be heard. Eventually, they found a small window that provided a direct view into the hall.

Inside, they saw Prince Heracles standing in the center of the room, wearing armor that gave off a silver glow. His blond hair fell over his shoulders, and his piercing blue eyes swept the room with the authority of a leader. Around him, the academy councilors sat with serious faces.

"We have no time for delay," Prince Heracles' voice echoed through the room. "The Order of the Twilight has moved faster than we thought. If our intelligence is correct, they are already approaching the location of the Sword of Dusk."

One of the council members, an old woman named Professor Valeria, shook her head. "But, Your Majesty, even if they find the sword, no one can use it without the right key."

"That's the problem," Heracles replied. "I think they already have one of the keys. And if they manage to find the others, nothing can stop the destruction they will bring."

Lucian felt a shiver run down his spine. The old witch was right. The Twilight Blade was a real threat, and it was now clear that the Twilight Order was close to achieving its goal.

As they continued to listen, the sound of footsteps approached from behind them. Before they could react, a royal guard stood behind them with his sword drawn.

"What are you doing here?" he snapped.

Alden was surprised, but Lucian remained calm. "We were just passing by," he replied in a flat tone, trying to read the bodyguard's movements.

"Don't lie," the guard replied, approaching cautiously. "Who are you really?"

As the tension grew, the doors of the hall opened and Prince Heracles himself appeared before them. He looked at them with a searching gaze.

"What happened here?" he asked.

"Your Majesty, I found these three students sneaking out of the hall," the bodyguard reported.

Heracles stepped forward and looked Lucian straight in the eye. "You don't look like a normal student," he said. "What's your name?"

Lucian felt the urge to lie, but he knew it wouldn't work. "Lucian," he answered simply.

Heracles raised an eyebrow. "Lucian? Interesting. There's something different about you."

Before the conversation could continue, an emergency horn sounded in the distance. A messenger ran toward them, his face pale.

"Your Majesty! The village on the southern border has been attacked. There are reports that an armed group bearing the symbol of the Order of the Dawn was seen there!"

Heracles clenched his fists. "Prepare the troops. We leave now."

Then he looked at Lucian and his friends. "If you really care about what happens, come with me. But remember, this isn't child's play."

Lucian exchanged looks with Alden and Eris. This was their chance to see the threat of the Order of the Twilight firsthand and perhaps gain more insight into their plans.

As night fell, they set out for the southern border with a small group of royal troops. When they arrived at the village, they were greeted with a scene of destruction. Houses were burning and villagers were running for cover.

In the midst of the chaos, a group of men in black robes with the Order of the Dusk emblem could be seen leading the attack. They held magical weapons that emitted a dark aura.

"Attack!" Heracles commanded, drawing his sword, which shone as brightly as the sun.

The battle has begun. Lucian immediately engaged in a fierce battle, using his skills to fight the members of the Order of the Twilight. Though his body was still young, his old instincts as Caelum guided his every move.

Alden and Eris also joined in, using their powers to protect the villagers and fight the enemy. Though outnumbered, their teamwork allowed them to keep up with the Dusk Order's attacks.

However, in the midst of the battle, one of the enemy leaders stepped forward. He was a masked man with a terrifying aura, holding a staff with the symbol of the Sword of Twilight on the tip.

"You don't know what you're getting into," the man said in a cold voice. "The Sword of Twilight will be ours, and we will reshape this world."

There was something familiar about the man. Could this be someone from his past? Before he could act, the man swung his staff, causing a great explosion that separated them.

When the dust cleared, the man and his party were gone. They left behind a devastated village, but their message was clear: the threat of the Order of the Twilight had only just begun.

Lucian stood in the midst of the destruction and watched the moon grow darker and darker in the sky. In his heart, he knew that this journey would bring more danger than he expected. But he also knew that he couldn't back down now. The Twilight Order must be stopped, no matter what the cost.