As they walked for a while, Maria suddenly seemed to remember something. She pulled a small envelope from her pocket.
— "Oh, I almost forgot—I have something important to give you. Read it along the way," she said, handing the envelope to Kraan before turning away. Pulling her dark hood over her head, she stepped into the ruins of the collapsed temple and vanished into the shadows.
Sefist stood in silence for a moment, then finally spoke:
— "We must leave before the Watchers arrive."
He urged them eastward, toward the fortress hidden in the heart of the mountain known as "Darkness is Light."
When they returned to the fortress, Sefist carefully unsealed the envelope Maria had left behind. The weight of the words struck his heart like the toll of a heavy bell.
*"The five nations of the Western Continent are uniting to wage a great war against the demons. They have formed a vast alliance, sharpening their armies like blades. Their commander is Selina, the second empress of the Northern Dominion, and under her banner rumors speak of more than half a million soldiers marching. The exact composition of their forces remains unknown, but their power is beyond question.
There is also another matter: of the Nine Knights of God, two have fallen. A ceremony will soon be held to choose their successors."*
With each line he read, Sefist's face grew darker, his chest heavy with a storm of unease. For a long moment he said nothing, until at last he lifted his gaze toward his companions and spoke:
"This is no ordinary movement—it could alter the fate of the world itself. If the five nations truly unite, they will not only threaten the demons, but any who stand in their path."
Kraan clenched his fists in silence, lost in thought. Beside him, Sophia quietly averted her gaze and sighed. The letter felt like a single stroke that had carved the shape of the future before their eyes.
Sefist walked slowly around the hall, letting his eyes drift over those gathered. He glanced at Ayra seated in the far corner, then at Kraan staring out the window, and finally spoke in a low voice.
— "Ayra, Kraan… I know this news must shake you."
Ayra lifted his head, eyes narrowing with suspicion.
— "What is it?"
Holding the envelope in his hand, Sefist traced its edges with his fingers before answering softly.
— "Maria has left us information that could change not only our path, but the fate of the entire world."
Kraan and Ayra exchanged uncertain looks, their eyes fixed on the letter in Sefist's grasp.
— "What does it say?" Kraan finally asked.
Sefist's voice grew heavy.
— "The five nations of the West are uniting. Their armies, numbering more than half a million, are preparing to march north."
Ayra staggered to his feet, whispering as though to himself:
— "They mean to crush the Demon Continent entirely…"
Then, turning his eyes toward the window, he added in a voice laden with sorrow:
— "Demons… once, they too were human. Flesh, blood, souls like ours. But under the curses, blood-rites, and grotesque experiments of mankind, their bodies twisted, their lives warped. Thus they were cast out, scorned, turned into another 'race' to be despised."
Ayra's gaze hardened as he fixed his eyes on Kraan, his voice cutting through the silence.
— "Kraan, I know you are strong. But this strength is not your own—it is the strength of Darkness. You feed it with your rage and hatred, and it grows within you."
He stepped forward, so close that Kraan could almost feel his breath.
— "Have you noticed? After every battle, your power increases—but your body weakens. Your bones tremble, your flesh quivers. The more Darkness you take in, the more it consumes you. In the end, it will destroy you."
Kraan's teeth ground together as he growled from deep within his chest:
— "Then… what must I do?"
Ayra placed his hand firmly on the hilt of his blade, eyes burning with resolve.
— "We will prepare you. We will make you strong—but with your own strength. Darkness must not command you. You must command the Darkness. Only then will you truly become a warrior."
As the three of them spoke, the heavy doors of the hall suddenly boomed open. Nevan strode in, his black cloak swirling, his voice urgent.
— "Hey, you three! I just received vital news from our spies—the five nations of the West are uniting."
Sefist regarded him calmly.
— "I know… but do you know when they will move?"
Nevan smirked faintly and shrugged.
— "You already know the answer."
Kraan leaned forward, voice sharp.
— "When?"
Nevan's voice fell like a hammer:
— "One year from now."