The news arrived before I even got out of bed.
It wasn't a royal messenger, nor an announcement in the streets. It was the strange silence in the house early in the morning, followed by hurried footsteps in the corridor and low voices trying not to sound urgent. When I went down the stairs, I immediately felt that something had changed.
The kitchen table was occupied in a different way. Liriel was sitting with an overly straight posture, Elara was flipping through a document with unusual attention, and Vespera was observing everything in silence, arms crossed. There was a guild seal resting on the polished wood of the table.
"Good morning," I said, even though I already knew it wasn't an ordinary day.
Elara looked up. "Maybe it's not that good."
I sat down slowly. I picked up the paper. The seal was official. Guild of Vailor. Extraordinary summons. It wasn't a request. It was an order disguised as formality.
"The tournament," I murmured.
Liriel nodded. "The Annual Guild Tournament."
I had heard about it before. Every adventurer had. An old competition, almost too traditional to be ignored. Guilds from different races and kingdoms gathered in a gigantic arena. Chosen representatives fought not only for prestige, but for money, influence, and political power. The stands were always packed. Merchants came from far away. Nobles bet absurd amounts. The world watched.
"They will choose Rank S representatives," Vespera said. "And that means us."
I sighed. "We don't have a choice, do we?"
Elara closed the document. "None."
While we ate, almost in silence, I thought about everything that had happened since the defeat of the Sixth General. Titles. Mansion. Recognition. Now this. It was as if the world had decided it wouldn't let us breathe.
At the guild, the movement was intense. The news had already spread. Groups talked excitedly. Others argued. Some looked far too nervous. When we entered, the looks turned toward us almost automatically.
I'm still not used to that.
The guild master was waiting for us in his office. He didn't waste time on courtesies.
"The tournament will take place in a few days," he said. "Vailor needs to show its strength."
"And that's why you chose us," I said.
"You are Rank S. And more than that, you defeated demon generals," he replied. "That matters."
I crossed my arms. "That also exposes us."
"Yes," he agreed without hesitation. "But that is the responsibility of power."
That was when I realized there was no room for refusal. It didn't matter if I thought we were still clumsy. It didn't matter if I believed many victories had come with help and luck. To the world, we were strong. And that was enough.
"Other guilds have already confirmed their presence," he continued. "Elves. Demi-humans. Demi-dragons. Fairies. Dwarves."
Elara took a deep breath. "Then it will be hell."
"It will be a stage," he corrected. "And Vailor needs to shine."
We left the guild with the weight of the decision upon us. Outside, the city followed its normal rhythm, as if nothing was about to happen. Vendors shouted prices. Children ran. Guards talked distractedly.
"You look worried," Liriel said as we walked.
"I am," I replied. "I don't know if we belong in that kind of place."
Vespera looked at me. "Belonging is not a matter of comfort. It is a matter of capability."
Elara smiled sideways. "And we have more capability than we like to admit."
Back at the mansion, we spent the rest of the day talking. Planning. Discussing possibilities. It wasn't training yet. It was mental preparation. Every name mentioned, every race cited, made the tournament more real.
At some point, I found myself alone in the courtyard. I watched the sky change color as the sun set. I thought about how everything seemed bigger now. More exposed. More dangerous.
"Maybe this is a bad idea," I murmured to myself.
But there was no turning back.
The invitation was not only inevitable. It was a test.
And whether I liked it or not, I knew that when we stepped into that arena, the entire world would be watching us.