Watching the nightfall, Midhir was silent as thoughts whirled in his mind.

“Your Majesty?” Lord Aulorn’s pressed the issue.

“Don’t call me that,” he waved his hand dismissively. Even if he tried what the Lord Enforcer asked him to, he didn’t know where to begin. And if it somehow worked, how was he supposed to demand one of the Old Ones to just answer his questions?

The image of that gigantic eye was seared into his mind. He couldn’t just go to its realm and demand answers.

“I don’t think I can,” he finally said. “What I saw when it pulled me to its realm…” his voice faded as a shiver he couldn’t stop came over him. He hugged his cloak tightly and shut his eyes for a moment. “It’s beyond my comprehension. Our lives mean nothing to it, we’re like dust in the wind, here one moment, gone the next.” His voice shook ever so slightly.

“If we don’t find the terrorist who escaped, and your vision comes true, then too many lives will be lost, and these lands will be forever lost to us. This won’t just affect Eldoria, your-“ he stopped himself. “…Midhir,” he corrected his words. “It’s going to spread across the whole continent, until nothing but golden sands and the Old Growth is left.”

The ashen battlefield he saw came to min. He bit his lips before asking the question that had been bothering him for the past day or so. “What if the Old God wants that to happen?” He asked, raising his gaze to meet the Lord Enforcer’s. “What if I’m just a pawn to bring the end of it all?”

Lord Aulorn’s brows furrowed. He pressed his lips together, forming a thin line. His jaw was tight as he pondered for a while.

“That’s what I thought.” Midhir let out a sigh. “We can’t trust the Old Gods. It’s their awakening that started this whole crisis. Find your scryer, Lord Aulorn, find the terrorist and stop him before he tries to awaken the other Great Ones.” His gaze lingered on the Old Growth. “Inform my mother of what transpired here.”

Lord Aulorn seemed hesitant before he finally nodded. He didn’t seem pleased with Midhir’s answer – naturally so. Had he been able to leverage his connection with this Old God, and somehow learned where the escaped cultist was going, the enforcers’ job would have become quite a bit simpler.

The restless night came to an end as the first light of dawn woke him up from disturbing nightmares. He climbed out of bed, stumbled into the bathroom, and let the warm water wash away some of the soreness in his body.

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Coming out of his room, he couldn’t help but notice the charged silence in the mansion. The servants were rushing about quietly, not pausing to even say good morning. Their expressions were dark and their jaws tight.

With a scowl, he hastened his steps as he made his way towards the dining hall. Something must have happened while he was asleep.

As he opened the doors, he came face to face with Willow who was just about to leave the dining hall. “Midhir!” She exclaimed, putting her hand on her heart as she gasped. Startled, she awkwardly chuckled. “You scared me,” she stepped back, letting him through.

“Sorry,” Midhir let the doors close behind him. “Did something happen? Everyone seems on edge.”

Willow’s expression darkened instantly. “You could say that.” She turned around, leading him to the table filled to the brim with plates of cheese, bread, fruits and the like. Aside from the food, there was also a folded newspaper near one of the corners.

Willow snatched the paper, unfolded it and turned it towards Midhir.

‘Civil War – Calador in flames as the two factions clash in the capital’

Midhir felt his heart sink. Blood drained from his face as he read on. “The royal family is missing?” he breathed out in shock. “There is fighting all over the kingdom?” It was difficult to believe. It was too fast, it all happened too suddenly. Sure, there had always been some back and forth between the noble and commoner factions, but all-out war? At a time like this, when Eldoria was struggling with the tears, and the desert was spreading? Even most of the smaller countries had stopped their infighting.

It was no wonder everyone looked so worried and on edge. Instability in the largest nation on this side of the continent was going to affect everything.

“I saw dad,” Willow spoke with a gentler voice as she put the paper back down. “We didn’t speak much – he had to leave early. I think I understand though – why he kept it a secret.”

Midhir forced a smile. “I see.” His mind remained on the grim news.

“Lonan left with dad and Lady Cait. Apparently the other two enforcers will remain here for a while.” Willow let out a sigh. “Alistair said that we’ll be leaving in a few hours as well. Apparently, our airship arrived sometime last night.” She scowled. “He seemed a little shaken up. What happened out there yesterday?”

Midhir’s jaw tightened. “The Enforcers took care of the cultists. One of them escaped, but they’ll find him soon.” The scent of blood mixed with burnt flesh was still fresh in his mind. He couldn’t forget the piled up dead bodies even if he wanted to. “I think Bareon will be safe from them for a while.”

Willow nodded. “That’s good to hear.” She averted her gaze. “I should have come with you.”

“No. I think it was better that you stayed here,” he quickly said, shaking his head. “It wasn’t a pleasant sight.”

Golden sands spread as far as the eye could see. The sky itself seemed to be aflame above the ancient desert. There was no life in those sands, nothing could survive that unnatural heat.

In the distance, a bell tolled.

The witch who called herself Circe turned east. “It’s begun then.” Her voice was but a whisper. “You won’t get away with this, old man.”