Night fell silently over Vailor.
From the mansion's balcony, the city seemed calm, illuminated by points of light scattered through the streets as if nothing were out of place. The wind passed gently, carrying a subtle chill that wasn't uncomfortable, but made everything feel clearer.
It was strange.
After everything that had happened that day, normality felt out of place.
I rested my arms on the railing, observing the horizon without hurry. My mind wasn't empty, but it also wasn't restless. It was a different state. Clearer.
More direct.
"Aren't you going to sleep?"
The voice came from behind.
Scarlett.
"In a bit," I replied.
She approached without making noise, stopping beside me. She didn't say anything at first, just looked in the same direction.
"The city doesn't seem to know," she said.
"No," I replied.
"But it will."
"Yes."
The silence between us wasn't uncomfortable. It was natural.
"You're different," she commented after a few seconds.
"How?"
"More… distant."
I thought for a moment before answering.
"More focused."
She nodded slightly.
"That makes sense."
We stayed there for a few more moments, without the need to fill the space with words.
Until light footsteps echoed behind us.
Lyannis appeared first, with that same curious look as always.
"You two here alone… interesting."
I ignored the comment.
Soon after, Liriel, Elara, and Rai'kanna also arrived. It didn't seem planned, but it ended up that way.
All gathered.
As always.
"Couldn't sleep?" Liriel asked.
"I haven't tried yet," I replied.
Elara leaned against the side wall of the balcony.
"Long day."
"Yes."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms, looking at the city.
"Important day."
Lyannis rested her elbows on the railing.
"So now it's official, right?"
"Yes."
Scarlett looked at me for a moment.
"You're still processing it."
"No."
She frowned slightly.
"No?"
"I've already processed it."
Liriel observed closely.
"And?"
I took a deep breath.
"And now we act."
The silence that followed wasn't heavy.
It was firm.
Like confirmation.
Elara nodded.
"Then we're aligned."
"Yes."
Rai'kanna kept her gaze fixed ahead.
"There's no turning back."
"No," I replied.
Lyannis smiled slightly.
"Finally."
Scarlett didn't smile.
"This isn't something to celebrate."
"It isn't," I replied.
"But it's not something to avoid either."
Liriel crossed her arms.
"So we face it."
"Yes."
The conversation stopped there for a few moments.
The wind kept passing, colder now.
The city remained calm.
But there was something different.
Subtle.
Hard to explain.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
And then…
It came.
The sensation.
Cold.
Dense.
Familiar.
I opened my eyes immediately.
It wasn't imagination.
It wasn't fatigue.
It was that.
The same presence as before.
The same pressure.
Stronger now.
"Did you feel that?" I asked.
The group reacted almost at the same time.
Liriel adjusted her posture.
Elara became more alert.
Scarlett looked around.
Rai'kanna narrowed her eyes.
Lyannis lost her smile.
"This…," Elara murmured.
"Yes," I replied.
It didn't come from a specific point.
It was broader.
As if it were distant…
But close at the same time.
Rai'kanna spoke in a low tone.
"It's stronger."
"Yes."
Scarlett took a deep breath.
"This isn't an attack… yet."
"No," I replied.
"But it's a warning."
Liriel nodded.
"So it's already started."
"Yes."
The silence returned.
This time different from all the others.
Heavier.
Clearer.
Lyannis looked at the horizon.
"So this is it."
"Yes," I replied.
Elara crossed her arms.
"No more doubts."
"No."
Rai'kanna kept her gaze firm.
"No more time."
Scarlett took a small step forward.
"No more waiting."
I looked at all of them.
At the group.
At what we had built.
And then I looked back at the darkness beyond the city.
The sensation was still there.
Constant.
Watching.
Approaching.
I took one last deep breath.
"It's close."
No one answered.
But they didn't need to.
Everyone already knew.
The storm was coming.
And this time…
There was no way to avoid it.