The world blinked. That was how Theodore would describe what happened. One moment, they were in the cave, then suddenly they weren’t in the cave anymore.

Cobblestones. Bustling crowds. The smell of fresh bread and not-so-fresh fish. Vendors hawked their wares. Voices rose above the din of the crowd. The scent of spices and freshly baked bread permeated the air. Sunlight dappled the street. There was no doubt about it... This was the market square. Holden’s market square.

Huh? Theodore blinked. What?

Lady Karmichael stood in front of them, and he was just about to open his mouth to speak up when someone else did.

“The market square?” Roland muttered, disoriented.

Lady Karmichael twirled. “Surprise!”

Holy hell... Theodore’s eyes narrowed. “Aunt, we don’t have time for—”

“Shush, darling. There’s always time for a good pastry.” She snagged a tart from a nearby stall, tossing a gold coin that had the vendor’s eyes bulging. The man scrambled to catch the coin worth a lot of aurums, stumbling over his stall.

Alaric scanned the area. “My lady, perhaps a more... discreet location?”

“Nonsense! Best to hide in plain sight.” She bit into the tart, red jam staining her lips. “Delicious, isn’t it?”

Theodore stepped closer, voice low. “The soldiers. Father’s men. We need them.”

Lady Karmichael raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And why would we need those stiff-backed ninnies?”

“The Night Whispers. They’re—”

“Boring!” She spun again, nearly colliding with a startled fishmonger. “Let’s discuss something more interesting. Like... the mating habits of water spirits! Hehe.”

She’s drunk again, Theodore groaned.

Thomas coughed. “My lady, with all due respect—”

“Did you know they form spirals?” She giggled with a hand over her mouth, then she whispered here next part conspiratorially. “Quite scandalous, really.”

Theodore moved up to her, prompting her eyes to meet his. Then he grabbed her arm. “Aunt. Focus. People will die if we don’t act.”

For a moment, her eyes sharpened, all playfulness vanishing. Then, quick as it came, the moment passed, replace by a cheeky grin. “Die, live, it’s all so tedious. Round and round we go!”

“Aunt.” Theodore’s voice was steel. “Pull them in. Now.”

She pouted. “You’re no fun anymore.”

“Aunt.”

“Fine, fine. But there are too many. It’ll be a squeeze.”

“I don’t care if we have to stack them like cordwood. We need every sword.”

Lady Karmichael’s shoulders slumped. She let out a childish whine. “But Theoooo, it’ll be so crowded. And soldiers are so...”

Theodore didn’t budge. “Aunt.”

“Oh, alright!” She stomped her foot, looking for all the world like a petulant child. “But you owe me a whole box of those little cakes I like. The ones with the pink frosting.”

A snap of her fingers. A crackle in the air. And suddenly, the market square was a lot more crowded.

Confused shouts. Barked orders. The clang of armor. Swords half-drawn.

In the center of it all, Lady Karmichael beamed. “Welcome to the party, boys! Hope you brought snacks.”

Theodore pinched the bridge of his nose. It was going to be a long day.

The men were panicked and appeared to be on the lookout for some kind of attack at any moment. This could be bad, Theodore needed to stop them before the situation could get out of hand.

“Stand down! At ease, men!” A voice cut through the din.

Confusion reigned. A burly sergeant bellowed, “What sorcery is this?”

Lady Karmichael twirled, scattering pastry crumbs. “The best kind!”

Theodore shot her a withering look. “Aunt, please.”

He strode forward, projecting as much authority as he could. “I am Theodore Lockheart. You are here by royal decree.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Theodore’s eyes swept over the assembled troops, noting their states of readiness. Some looked battle-hardened, others green as spring grass.

A wiry captain pushed to the front. He appeared to have recognized Theodore. “My lord, we were coming for Holden on his majesty’s orders. What—”

“All will be explained,” Theodore cut him off. “For now, form up. Quietly.”

The soldiers, trained to obey, began to organize themselves. Theodore caught snippets of confused whispers.

“—swear we were just in the woods—”

“—some kind of drill?—”

“—that noblewoman looks mad as a hatter—”

Lady Karmichael pirouetted past, winking at a flustered-looking pikeman. “Ooh, you’re a tall drink of water, aren’t you?”

Theodore pinched the bridge of his nose. “Aunt…”

She turned to him. “You’re no fun.”

As the chaos slowly resolved into military order under the orders of one particular man, Theodore felt eyes on him. He scanned the crowd, gaze settling on a familiar face. Broad-shouldered, with the same jaw, but lighter blonde hair—leaning toward white—and a bit older than Theodore.

Alden Lockheart.

Theodore held his brother’s stare but didn’t approach. Not yet. He had a job to do.

“Listen up!” He shouted, all eyes turned to him. “We face a grave threat. I know you’re confused, but I need your trust and your discipline. Can I count on that?”

A chorus of “Yes, my lord!” rang out.

Theodore allowed himself a small smile. “Good. We’ll make camp outside the city walls. You will be briefed. For now, maintain a low profile. We don’t want to alarm the citizenry.”

…More than they’d done so already.

As the soldiers began to move out, Theodore finally approached his brother. Alden’s eyes crinkled with a mixture of amusement and concern.

“It’s good to see you, Alden.”

Alden smiled. “You’ve changed.”

Theodore returned the smile. He had to admit... it felt unfamiliar on his face. Theodore hadn’t particularly been close to his brother.

“That I have,” he said.

“Father was worried.”

“Was he?”

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“Yeah, and mother pesters him still. She wanted to involve Aunt Karmichael, but father had sent her to deal with issues with the barbarians like elder sister Juliana.” Then, looking at Lady Karmichael, he continued. “But, well, it seems she’s here.”

Theodore’s lips twitched. “Yeah, can understand.”

“Thus, he sent me.”

“Well, I appreciate it.”

Alden clasped his shoulder. “No need. Brief me on the situation, would you?”

Theodore’s face growing serious. “Walk with me.”

As they fell into step, Theodore’s voice lowered. “It’s the Night Whispers.”

They passed Lady Karmichael, who was bothering a group of bewildered soldiers.

Alden eyed her warily. “And Aunt Karmichael...?”

Theodore sighed.

“I had to contact her.”

Alden stared at him. The unsaid question was apparent, but he still waited for Alden to say it. “How?”

“Well, I have a way to contact her. Regardless, the Night Whispers, apparently, are trying to summon a god or something.”

Theodore briefly explained everything before he got the most concerning matter. “And I suspect they’re trying to trigger dungeon incursions.”

“How long do we have?”

“Very little time.” Theodore’s jaw clenched. “They’re drawn to populated areas. The town is in danger. Negative emotions. Yeah, they’re after negative emotions for some kind of a ritual.”

Alden studied him for a few heartbeats. “You... really have changed, Theo. What happened out here?”

For a moment, Theodore found no words. More like excuses. Thus, he settled on something he’d thought about. “I grew up, Alden. I had to.”

It didn’t look like Alden believed him. Well, not that he had to or needed to. Thus, after a moment, Alden said, “Well, good to hear.”

Theodore nodded. “Thank you, brother. We’ll need every sword.”

A commotion drew their attention. Lady Karmichael had somehow procured a tambourine and was leading a conga line of soldiers too afraid to deny her words.

“I’d better go rein her in,” Theodore sighed. “She’s drunk.”

“Some things never change,” Alden chuckled, then he quietened. “Well, not after what happened to her kids. Something must’ve stressed her out, or reminded her of them. She’s always been bad with handling her emotions. Anyhow! Go on, I’ll start organizing the men.”

Nodding, Theodore walked up to his aunt.

“Aunt!” he called. “Perhaps we could focus on preparing defenses instead of... whatever this is?”

Lady Karmichael spun, tambourine jangling. “Oh, pish posh! All work and no play makes Jackie a dull girl!”

Theodore raised an eyebrow. “Who’s Jackie? You know, never mind.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Aunt, please. We need to set up wards.”

“Already did that, though.”

“For other towns. Westford, Corinth, Argent. The small towns. Villages.”

Her eyes sharpened. “What am I? A machine? That’ll be costly for my reserves, you know.”

“Can you do it?”

“I can, but—”

“I can give a mana crystal.”

“Are you trying to bribe me?”

“Oh, and I’m thinking about making this sweet. It’s called chocolate. It’s a rich, decadent treat made from cocoa beans, sugar, and a touch of milk. It’s like a velvety embrace for your taste buds, with a hint of bitterness that balances the sweetness perfectly. Trust me, it’s better than any honey you’ve ever tasted and it’s tasty as hell.” Theodore said.

“Um.”

“Please?”

“Okay, okay

She sighed.

“You’re just like Juliana.”

“Thanks. I’ll get you the crystal.”

“No need.” She said, then her cheekiness disappeared. “Eh, anyway, it seems like I’ve bothered you enough as is. The situation is bad, I was trying to get your mood up. But it’s clearly not working.” She then patted his head. “Don’t worry, Theo. I’ll handle it. I get you’re stressed. Don’t be. I’m here.”

Theodore didn’t know what to say. He wondered if those were the words she wished to hear. Then again, maybe he was looking into it a bit too much.

***

Theodore sat, thinking, as everyone moved around. It was then that a soldier jogged up, saluting. “My lord, we’ve secured the perimeter. But there’s something you should see.”

“Show me.”

They hurried to the town walls. As they climbed the steps, Theodore’s dread grew. He knew what he would see before they reached the top.

The horizon was dark. Not with storm clouds, but with something more sinister. A roiling mass of shadow, creeping across the land like spilled ink.

“Gods preserve us,” someone in the soldiers whispered. Another beside him laughed, saying there was nothing to worry about, the king’s men were elite of the elite. The situation would be handled in no time.

Which was partially correct.

But the danger was still there.

Theodore’s voice was steel. “How long?”

The soldier swallowed hard. “At that speed? By nightfall, my lord.”

Not enough time to evacuate the people in time. Not that it would be necessary. Lady Karmichael was sitting in the manor, operating multiple barriers across different towns and cities. It required immense concentration, and thus, she wouldn’t be able to help fight.

He turned to Roland. “Find my aunt. Tell her we need to make sure the wards are functional. Now.”

As Roland hurried off, Theodore surveyed the town below. Thousands of lives, unaware of the doom approaching. The reason was rather simple. To avoid mass-hysteria, Lady Karmichael was making sure that the ward displayed nothing that would happen outside. For all the town would know, it would be just another night.

At this particular moment, Theodore felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders like a physical thing.

Alden joined him on the wall. “Theo?”

“We hold the line. Whatever it takes.”

The shadows crept closer, devouring the afternoon sun.

“Eh, why’re you worrying?” Alden chuckled. “Are you underestimating me and my soldiers? Do you think father would send us otherwise? He is not stupid, Theodore. Calm yourself, and behold the might of Obsidian.”

A slight tremor ran through the earth. What could it be? Theodore was curious. Theodore’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the horizon.

In the distance, the ground split open like a rotten fruit. Dark tendrils writhed skyward, coalescing into... things. Monsters. Abominations.

First came the skittering horrors. Chitinous legs and too many eyes. They poured from the fissures in grotesque streams. Orcs, goblins, monsters.

Next, the lumbering brutes. Misshapen masses of muscle and bone, dragging themselves from the earth with guttural roars.

Winged terrors took to the air. Leathery wings and razor talons blotting out the sun.

This was an incursion.

His gaze flicked to the dark patch on the distant horizon. The source of it all. As he watched, inky tendrils of energy began to rise from the city below.

“Negative emotions,” Theodore realized quickly.

Beside him, Alden realized it too. “We need to go and stop that thing,” he said, voice unnaturally calm. “Seems it’s our target.”

He clapped Theodore on the shoulder, grinned, and then, without warning, Alden leapt.

Theodore blinked. What? Why’d he leap across a tall wall? Before be could ask, though, Alden... jumped.

Off the air itself.

A skill. Hmm.

He rocketed skyward. In the space of a heartbeat, he soared over the invading horde.

There was a moment of pause as gravity took hold of him, and then, he kicked off the air once more and landed with earth-shattering force in the middle of the horde.

A shockwave rippled outward. The ground cracked. Monsters died by the dozens. Crushed. Torn apart. Vaporized.

Well, he’s strong. As expected.

Below, the city gates burst open. Soldiers poured forth, weapons glinting in the fading sun.

Theodore allowed himself a smile. They’d win.

His attention turned to the looming darkness. The true threat.

Cold fury settled in his chest. Months of slights and losses crystalized into razor-sharp focus. They’d sabotaged his plans, he’d been okay with that. They killed his men. They pressured him from all sides. Took his agency. He was okay.

His fingers tightened on the hilt of his sword.

Then they hurt his people. The Blight, then the Crystal Plague...

The air around Theodore began to congregate, and his clothes fluttered.

I can only take so much.

His eyes, hard as flint, fixed on the distant patch of writhing darkness.

You will suffer. I’ll make sure of that.

Mana surged through him. [Elemental Spells] triggered, Theodore launched himself skyward, sword drawn. Wind whipped past his ears as he rocketed towards his target using a mixture of air—and concentrated, compressed fire.

A flash of movement caught his eye. The vampire girl, sprinting impossibly up thin air. Each step propelling her higher, faster.

Ezekiel appeared at his side, giving Theodore a curt nod.

Theodore returned the gesture, then fixed his gaze ahead. The patch of darkness loomed, still distant but growing closer with each passing moment.

The real battle was about to begin.