Whispers of War

In the wastes of Agartha, the land stretched like a scar across the world. The air was dry, reeking of ash and rust. Jagged stone spires jutted from the ground like broken teeth, and black sand shifted under every step.

The distant silhouette of the Demon Lord's castle loomed like a wound against the horizon.

On its outskirts, the party lay hidden. Zephyr, using the Lightbringer, had woven a shimmering barrier — faint and unseen — one that mirrored the magic the Hero himself had once used to veil the remaining elves presence. Yet even with that, a cold unease gnawed at them, as if a thousand unseen eyes pressed upon their souls.

Kazuki crouched low beside Ardent, Caliondur, and Gorran, who kept watch over the fortress.

"Have the twins returned from scouting?" Kazuki asked quietly, his voice taut.

Gorran shook his head. "Not yet."

Kazuki frowned. "It's been nearly three days… I'm getting worried about them."

"Don't be, lad," Gorran answered, steady but firm. "Their gift cloaks their presence and erases every sound they make. No one's better suited for this than them — and they've been through these wastes before."

Ardent's gaze lingered on the castle gates, where torchlight flickered against a field crawling with shadows. "The ground is swarming with demons. Either they're waiting for us… or preparing another assault."

Caliondur's eyes narrowed. "Whichever it is, they're on high alert. We move only when the scouts return."

As he spoke, two demons clashed in the field beyond — snarling, clawing, fighting like rabid beasts. Caliondur's expression dimmed. "To see my kin — once proud and noble — reduced to this… it is a sorrow I cannot measure."

"They hardly resemble your kind anymore," Gorran muttered.

"Even so," Caliondur said solemnly, "the fallen are still my people. The only mercy left is to release them from this curse."

Ardent placed a hand on Gorran's shoulder. "You've been on edge all night. Go take some rest. Caliondur and I will keep watch."

After a long pause, Gorran relented with a grunt. On the way back to camp, Kazuki walked beside him.

"You've been serious ever since the shroud," Kazuki said. "Everything alright?"

"Aye, lad," Gorran replied, his tone softer than usual. "I'm not often like this… but I've a child on the way. Worry weighs heavier than armor." Kazuki gave him a hearty pat on the back. "Don't fret — we'll all see this through and return alive."

Back at camp, Zephyr and Maeryn sat close, whispering with quiet smiles, writing things in a paper.

"What's this?" Kazuki asked as he approached, pointing to the words on the paper.

"Names," Zephyr said with a small grin. "For the child."

"Now?" Kazuki blinked. "Right before a battle?"

Maeryn chuckled. "In times like these, it's good to speak of softer things. What better than a new life?"

Gorran wrapped an arm around her, and kissed her. "So? What've you thought of?"

"If it's a girl," Maeryn said, "I like Mina. For a boy… Gram."

Gorran scratched his chin. "Mina's perfect. But Gram… not quite. I was thinking Kaveh. It runs in my family."

Maeryn's eyes softened. "Kaveh… I like it."

Kazuki shot Zephyr a look. "Let's leave them to it." Together, they slipped away to their own tent.

Inside, Kazuki asked, "Is master Alvis still in his tent? What's he doing?"

"He said he is looking into the Ahura's staff, trying to learn its secrets." She replied.

Silence lingered between them after that. Then Zephyr spoke softly. "Kazuki… what do you want to do after this battle?"

He turned toward her. "What do you mean?"

"I mean us. Our relationship."

Kazuki hesitated. "What about Kael? Don't you… miss him?"

Zephyr's eyes lowered. "I do. But now… I don't want you to leave."

"And my mother? My friend?" Kazuki pressed.

Zephyr reached for his hand, holding it tightly. "Kael is honorable. He'll look after them as if they were his own family. And with the Basin, you'll be able to see them whenever you wish." She held his gaze, her voice trembling — "Kazuki, are we not enough for you? You can't always be with your mom and friends eventually go their own path."

Kazuki replied calmly. "My mom, my friend… they will always have a place. Love doesn't replace — it adds. We love others for who they are, not who they can replace."

He was silent for a moment. "I do miss them. But it's not as if I'm not attached to you all — especially you, Zephy."

Her lips curved into a smile. "Then it's settled. When this mission ends, we return… and say there was no way to undo the summoning. Then we marry."

Kazuki chuckled, shaking his head. "Marry? Slow down, girl. Doesn't Kael want to return?"

Her smile faltered, though her voice was steady. "Kael chose to sacrifice himself for the summoning. He didn't know there'd be a new life waiting for him, let alone a way back to home. Kael lives for the moment. He would want you to do the same. Don't trouble yourself with him, or Hana, or your mother."

"Live, Kazuki."

She leaned forward, their lips nearly touching—

"—The twins have returned!" Ardent's voice cut through the night.

They all left their tents and gathered around the twins, handing them water. Verena and Vada drank deeply, their chests rising and falling with relief.

Kazuki exhaled and said, "We were getting worried about you two. What took you so long to return?"

Verena wiped her mouth and answered, "We scouted everywhere. We even infiltrated inside the castle."

The camp fell silent. Eyes widened.

"You got in?" Gorran's voice was thick with disbelief.

Ardent leaned forward. "How? And what's the situation inside?"

Vada caught her breath before answering. "There's a pattern. They rotate their patrol teams circling the grounds. At night, when the massive iron gates opened, we flew in from above."

Verena picked up where her sister left off. "Inside, it's the same as outside—they're preparing. They're planning a full-scale attack on the kingdom."

Caliondur narrowed his eyes. "How do you know this?"

Vada's tone was grim. "We saw the cloaked mage—the one who summoned the Demon Lord. She was showing him a map of the kingdom. Together with his commander, they were drawing lines across our shores."

Alvis stroked his beard, his expression dark. "Is that everything, girls?"

The twins nodded in perfect unison. "Yes, that's everything."

Kazuki straightened and said, "Then we need a plan. Let's head to the tent."

Zephyr rose, forcing a lighter tone into her voice. "But first, let's eat. I'm sure you two are starving."

They moved as one toward the tents, knowing the next step would decide not just their fates—but the kingdom's.