The message arrived at dawn.
I was in the mansion courtyard, finishing a light training session, when I felt a magical presence forming behind me. A green seal appeared in the air, spinning slowly, bearing the crest of the Elven Kingdom. The mana emanating from it was unstable. Urgent.
I extended my hand and touched the seal.
The voice that echoed was not recorded. It was projected in real time.
"The Fourth General's army is advancing. The Sacred Forest will be invaded in a few days. We request immediate support from Rank A+ and S adventurers."
The projection displayed an aerial view of the elven border. Black columns moved like a living stain. Demons. Thousands of them.
The seal dissipated.
I remained silent for a few seconds.
The Fourth General was not impulsive. If he was advancing, he had calculated every consequence. The Sacred Forest was one of the largest natural mana reserves on the continent. If it were taken, the demonic army would gain an advantage impossible to ignore.
Soft footsteps echoed behind me.
"Something happened," Liriel said.
I handed her the recording crystal that had formed after the transmission. A copy of the message. The others arrived soon after. Elara, with her analytical gaze. Vespera, silent as always. Rai'kanna, still adjusting her gauntlets. Lyannis observing every detail before even asking.
"Threat level?" Elara asked.
"Total," I replied. "General call for A+ and S. This isn't a skirmish."
Rai'kanna smirked. "Finally."
Lyannis crossed her arms. "If it's the Fourth General, he won't retreat."
"Neither will we," Liriel said firmly.
I had already made the decision the moment the message ended.
"We're accepting."
There was no surprise.
The main Guild confirmed minutes later that my name was already included in the priority list. The reputation built in recent battles carried weight now.
We returned inside the mansion.
The routine was interrupted with precise efficiency, almost surgical. The maids were gathered in the main hall. I explained that we would be gone for an indefinite time. The administration of the property would be under their responsibility.
The head maid bowed her head calmly.
"You can trust us."
Trust was never something I gave easily, but there was no doubt there.
I went up to my room and began organizing my equipment. This was not a common mission. Not exploration. Not an isolated contract.
It was war.
I reviewed every piece of armor. Adjusted straps. Replaced damaged components. Tested the balance of the sword.
It was different since the last battle. More stable. Quieter.
"You already knew this would happen," I murmured.
No response came, but the subtle vibration of the blade indicated awareness.
I went downstairs again.
Elara spread maps across the table. Not ordinary maps, but updated projections of the elven border. Rai'kanna analyzed possible entry routes. Vespera calculated travel time. Lyannis reviewed old reports on demonic strategies. Liriel prepared additional magical catalysts.
There was no panic.
There was focus.
"Distance to the kingdom?" I asked.
"Two days at steady pace," Vespera replied. "If we push, one and a half."
"We won't arrive exhausted," I said. "We keep a steady rhythm."
Elara nodded. "If the Fourth General wants the forest, he intends to consolidate territory. That means a prolonged siege."
"Then we break the siege before it closes," Rai'kanna added.
Liriel looked at me for a few seconds before speaking.
"You understand that if we accept this war, there won't be a simple return."
"I know."
She didn't ask anything else.
In the afternoon, we received official confirmation from the Central Guild. Open reward, but that was irrelevant. What mattered was the strategic impact.
If the forest fell, the demons would exponentially increase their conjuring capacity. Abundant mana would fuel rituals, strengthen generals, accelerate regeneration.
This wasn't just a territorial battle.
It was a struggle for the balance of the continent.
Before sunset, we were ready.
Backpacks sealed. Weapons adjusted. Items organized by priority.
I made one last inspection of the mansion. Silent corridors. Well-kept garden. The distant sound of the central fountain.
I knew that when we returned, something would have changed. It always did.
We gathered at the main gate.
The maids lined up in respectful silence.
Their leader spoke first.
"Come back alive."
Rai'kanna let out a quiet laugh. "We intend to."
I simply nodded.
We departed.
The road leading to the elven territory was long, but familiar. The trees became denser as we advanced. The air grew purer. The natural presence of mana was noticeable.
During the first hours, no one spoke much.
Each was organizing their thoughts.
I analyzed possible scenarios.
If the Fourth General was leading personally, it meant he considered the forest a priority target. It also meant that the chance of direct confrontation was real.
I felt no fear.
I felt anticipation.
The sky began to darken when we made the first brief stop. Just enough for hydration and route adjustment.
Lyannis approached.
"You want to face him."
It wasn't an accusation. It was an observation.
"Yes."
"And you think you're ready?"
I thought for a moment.
"Not completely."
She nodded. "Then we prepare along the way."
We resumed the march.
Night fell completely, but we kept moving. The moon illuminated the path between the trees. The silence was broken only by the rhythmic sound of footsteps.
The sword on my back felt heavier than usual.
Or maybe it was just the responsibility.
If I failed, it wouldn't be just my defeat.
It would be the collapse of an entire nation.
Before midnight, we stopped for real rest. We set up a simple camp, without a visible fire. Discretion was a priority.
While the others organized watch shifts, I moved a few meters away.
I looked at the sky.
The war had already begun even before we crossed the border.
I closed my eyes for a few seconds and felt the mana around me.
Unstable.
Distant, but present.
The Fourth General was already altering the natural flow of the region.
I opened my eyes.
There was no room for hesitation now.
The decision had been made the moment I touched that green seal.
This war would define more than territory.
It would define how far I could go.
I returned to the camp.
Tomorrow we would move faster.
And when we reached the Sacred Forest, we wouldn't be just adventurers.
We would be the line that stops the advance of the demonic army.
And I had no intention of retreating.