Two months had passed.
The city of Eyrendyl was changing.
Rumors spread like wildfire—whispers of suspicious figures lurking in alleyways, quiet exchanges of coin for unknown substances, and an unspoken tension that settled over the academy. The attacks had continued, though none had directly involved students. Scholars, merchants, and even a few city officials had vanished or been found dead. While the city guard increased patrols, it was clear they were struggling to contain the growing unrest.
Despite this, life at the academy continued as usual. Lessons, sparring matches, research projects—everything moved forward, as if the outside world wasn't shifting beneath their feet.
The morning markets were as lively as ever, traders shouting over one another, the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread filling the air. But beneath the surface, there was unease.
Kalem strolled past the stalls with Nara and Jhaeros, browsing wares with no real intention of buying anything. Even Onyx, his bull, seemed unsettled as they led him through the streets.
"You feel it too, right?" Kalem murmured, glancing at Nara.
The orc-warrioress rolled her shoulders. "Yeah. People are acting different. Fewer street fights, more quiet conversations. And those extra guards? They're not just here for show."
Jhaeros walked slightly behind them, his sharp gaze flickering between passing figures. "Velka has been restless. It's not just us—animals sense something wrong with the city."
Kalem remained quiet. He had noticed the shift long before his friends had. Though they all saw the symptoms, he had a stronger suspicion of the cause.
Back at the academy, Kalem spent his free hours in the forge, refining his weapons and pushing his knowledge of metallurgy. He experimented with new forging techniques, tested different material combinations, and fine-tuned his resonance blade.
Meanwhile, Nara trained relentlessly with her elemental control, her frustration evident as she pushed herself to her limits. "Still not fast enough," she muttered after an intense sparring session.
Jhaeros spent time with Velka, practicing tracking exercises in the academy woods. "If something is coming, I want her to be ready," he had explained simply.
Lyra, ever focused, buried herself in alchemical studies, refining potions and even experimenting with counteragents.
Though none of them voiced it, they were all preparing in their own way.
One evening, as they gathered for dinner, Lyra arrived later than usual, setting her tray down with a slight frown.
"I heard something strange today," she said, voice low.
Nara raised a brow. "Stranger than usual?"
Lyra hesitated before nodding. "Some of the senior alchemists have been asked to brew… questionable substances. Poisons. They're being paid large sums, but those who refuse have started disappearing."
Kalem remained silent, stirring his soup.
Jhaeros's ears twitched slightly. "That's not normal."
Nara exhaled, leaning back in her chair. "So, what are we dealing with here? Some underground war?"
Lyra shook her head. "I don't know. But if something is happening, it's bigger than we thought."
Kalem said nothing, but he knew.
The Blood Nights were coming.
And Eyrendyl would never be the same.