Chapter 52:Watching from Above – The Night Before the Storm

The night enveloped the city slowly, like a predator waiting for the right moment to strike. Lianel stood on the city wall, her gaze fixed in the distance. Her silver hair barely stirred in the wind, and her slender fingers unconsciously gripped the bow's hilt. The stone beneath her feet was cold, even through the soles of her boots.

The city sprawled below, bathed in the faint light of lanterns reflecting off rooftops and narrow cobbled streets. The lights seemed too dim, as if they, too, sensed the unease hanging over this place. The central square of the guild was the heart of the tension. The runic slabs in its center glowed with a faint light, waiting for the moment when the mages would complete their preparations.

Beyond the city gates, the forest stretched out. Thick, dark, like an endless abyss. At this hour, it should have been alive with the sounds of the night — rustling beasts, the whisper of leaves, the cries of predators hunting. But tonight, it was silent.

— "It's beautiful," Lianel murmured, not looking away.

Heavy footsteps approached from behind. Rudgard joined her, leaning on the hilt of his battle hammer. He squinted, taking in the sight of the city.

— "I didn't think you were one to enjoy the view," he said.

— "I like to look at what might change soon."

Rudgard grunted but said nothing. His gaze moved over the old districts, once burned during the war. Ruins mixed with new buildings, a reminder that this city had stood on the brink of destruction before.

— "Do you think tomorrow it will be different?"

— "I know it will."

They stood in silence for a few seconds. The wind picked up, making Lianel wrap her cloak more tightly around her. Her eyes drifted beyond the city. There, in the depths of the forest, something flashed. Barely noticeable, but she had definitely seen it. It wasn't the glow of a campfire or the reflection of metal.

She narrowed her eyes.

— "Something's coming," her voice was almost a whisper.

Rudgard tensed, lifting his head. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his hammer. He hadn't seen what Lianel had, but he felt it. Something in the air had changed. A slight tension vibrated in his bones, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end.

— "Are you sure?"

— "I never miss," she replied.

In the distance, amid the shadows of the forest, something moved. Just once. Then everything fell silent again.

Lianel didn't look away, and her hand reached for her quiver.

Suddenly, a deep hum echoed through the city. They both turned toward the central square. The runic slabs flared brightly, and thin threads of magical energy hung in the air. The activation of the barrier had begun.

Lianel threw one last glance at the forest.

— "This isn't the end."

She quickly turned and headed down into the city.

Rudgard lingered for a moment, staring at the black silhouettes of the trees, before following her.

The darkness over the city thickened, as if something were feeding it. The air grew heavier, soaked with tension that made people move faster, close doors, light lanterns, as though this could protect them from the coming storm.

Lianel and Rudgard descended from the wall and made their way to the central square, where the guild's mages were already gathering. The light from the runic symbols carved into the stone had grown brighter. It ran in thin lines along the large slabs, forming a complex magical pattern, resembling a mechanism on the verge of activation.

Kano stood off to the side, observing. His arms were crossed over his chest, his gaze drifting between the mages taking their positions. Among the crowd, one could spot Selina, softly muttering a prayer, and Naira, impatiently tapping the hilt of her axe on the stone floor.

Lenor stood at the front, beside the guild's head mage — an old man with a thick white beard, barely moving his lips as he gave final instructions. His eyes, though hidden by wrinkles, burned with experience and certainty.

— "Are you sure this crystal will hold?" Lenor's voice was steady, but there was a hint of hidden tension.

The mage passed his hand over the platform, making the symbols pulse with light.

— "Its mana flow is stable, and the energy exceeds our reserves by several times. But..." he paused for a moment, looking at Lenor. "If someone breaks the system, all this power will explode, and the city will be left with nothing but a crater dozens of meters deep."

Rudgard, who was standing nearby, grunted and leaned on his hammer.

— "Well, fantastic," he said, glancing at the flickering symbols. "So, if they don't break through the barrier, the city will blow itself apart? Brilliant idea!"

Lenor, without changing his expression, replied coldly:

— "That's why we're here, to ensure that doesn't happen."

Naira, who had been silently observing, scoffed.

— "And so, are we just going to stand here while they do their magic? If anyone attacks, I'll be the first to rush into battle," Naira said, her voice laced with impatience.

Kano didn't respond. He continued watching, but something stirred within him. His eyes locked on the central crystal, rising above the mechanism like the heart of the magical system. Its light was... strange. It didn't just shine — it seemed to breathe.

He felt a faint vibration, as if the crystal was responding to his presence.

— "This is abnormal..." Selina said quietly, stepping closer. "The crystal is reacting to you, Kano."

Kano clenched his fists slightly. He had felt it ever since he first saw it. A mysterious warmth spread through his body, making every muscle tense.

Lianel listened silently to their conversation, but her attention wasn't on the crystal. She felt something else.

Her fingers tightened on the bow.

— "Something's coming," she said softly, her gaze fixed on the darkness beyond the city.

And at that moment, the mages began the activation.

The runic slabs flared sharply. A massive surge of magical energy erupted from the underground, passing through the earth and piercing the air. Flashes of light shot into the sky, converging into one powerful dome that began to cover the city.

The barrier was forming.

Kano watched it, but his focus returned to the crystal. Its light pulsed… no, it responded.

He didn't understand why, but it felt like the crystal… was waiting for him.

The barrier finished forming, leaving only one invisible edge between the city and whatever lay hidden in the darkness.

But would this stop the enemy?

That question hung in the air until Kano finally tore his gaze away from the crystal and looked up.

The night hadn't even begun.

Everyone in the square held their breath.

People hiding in their homes cautiously peeked out from windows, watching as the city was enveloped by the magical shell. Some sighed in relief, while others remained tense, unable to believe they were now safe.

— "That's it," Rudgard grunted, leaning heavily on his hammer. "If anyone attacks now, they'll have to work hard for it."

— "If they attack..." Lianel repeated, but didn't finish. Her gaze was still fixed beyond the walls, into the deep forest's darkness.

Naira sighed, shifting her axe to her shoulder.

— "And now what? We just sit here and wait?"

— "Exactly," Lenor's voice was firm. He turned his gaze to Kano, who stood silently. "Did you feel anything?"

Kano paused for a moment before responding.

— "It's like... the crystal paid attention to me for a moment."

Lenor didn't react to these words, only shifted his gaze to the head mage, who was watching Kano intently.

— "Rest," Lenor said, turning away. "The city is closed now. Let's see who dares to test its strength."

The wind swept through the square, billowing cloaks and kicking up dust on the slabs.

Somewhere in the darkness, something was waiting.

And this was just the beginning.

The city drowned in the magical light emitted by the runic slabs. The barrier's dome was nearly complete — the final waves of energy fused in the air, forming an invisible but powerful wall.

By the main gates of the guild, which were beginning to close, stood two figures. Lenor, as calm and focused as ever, watched the magical sphere slowly finish its cycle. Beside him, nearly a head taller, stood Ragnar.

He looked like a creature from ancient legends. Gigantic muscles concealed superhuman strength, and his face and body were partially covered in short golden fur. His red hair cascaded in thick strands, resembling a lion's mane. His eyes gleamed with a wild yellow hue, and beneath his thick skin, the muscles trembled with anticipation for battle.

A heavy sword hung across his back, and his clawed fingers were slightly clenched, as if he was already imagining tearing enemies apart with his bare hands.

— "You're leaving the city when the barrier isn't even fully finished?" Kano asked, stepping closer.

— "Exactly," Lenor replied calmly, not taking his eyes off the horizon. "They're waiting outside. We're hunting."

Ragnar grinned, a wide, almost predatory smile.

— "We'll be back soon. In the meantime, you and your team are the last line of defense."

Kano paused for a moment, feeling the weight of the responsibility settling on his shoulders.

— "We need to protect the barrier mechanism," Lianel added, tightening her grip on the bow.

Lenor nodded briefly.

— "Exactly. If the barrier is breached, the crystal will be the last hope for the city. Don't let them reach it."

In the distance, the sound of the final magical pulse echoed. The barrier's dome was nearly complete, leaving only a narrow opening near the gates.

Ragnar licked his fangs, as if preparing for a true hunt.

— "Hold the line until we return."

And they were gone.

Their shadows vanished into the darkness, and in the next moment, the magical energy of the barrier finished its formation, sealing the dome behind them.

Kano continued watching them disappear.

— "If they find someone there first..."

— "Then that's good," Naira replied, shifting her axe to her other shoulder. "But if they find us first, that'll be a completely different story."

Lianel glanced one last time beyond the city, where Lenor and Ragnar had disappeared.

— "This isn't the end."

Her words hung in the air, blending with the quiet tension that permeated every corner of the city.

The night had only just begun.