Haruto found himself taking a deep breath, his hand idly brushing against the communicator as he steadied his thoughts. After the events of the initiation, the air around him felt heavier, laden with the echo of magic and the murmur of a city trying to return to normalcy. Yet, nothing about this day was normal. The streets were back to bustling with the colorful vibrancy of vendors calling out their wares and children laughing as they darted through the crowds, but there was also an undertone that bore a muted palette. People moved with a cautious solemnity, their faces reflecting a shared grief for the lives lost during the initiation.
This change was palpable, even to someone like Haruto, who had just recently been thrown into the thick of this world's complexities. He was beginning to understand the depth of the political undercurrents that influenced the Kingdom of Mordell. The noble houses, with their long-held power now waning under King Drago's rule, simmered with barely concealed resentment. They viewed the Warlords, once mere defenders against chaos, now as symbols of a shifting paradigm—one that constantly threatened their traditional hold over the kingdom's affairs.
Navigating through the quieted square, Haruto pondered the historical shift that had led to this moment. The previous catastrophic beast outbreak, which had decimated parts of the kingdom before the Capitol's robust fortifications were established, marked a pivotal change. It was during those dark times that the Warlords had risen from disorganized, solitary defenders into organized guilds of formidable strength. Drago's ascent to the throne had only solidified this new structure, turning the Warlords into the backbone of the kingdom's defense and, inadvertently, a political force.
His thoughts were interrupted as he ducked into an alleyway, seeking a moment of privacy to contact Dimitri. The celestial realm felt worlds away from the gritty reality of the stone and shadow around him. As he activated the communicator, the familiar face of Dimitri appeared, his expression oscillating between annoyance and curiosity.
"Finally decided to check in, huh? I was beginning to think you'd gotten yourself killed," Dimitri quipped, his tone light but his eyes sharp with concern.
Haruto couldn't help but shale his head at the god's demeanor. "Almost," he responded. "There's a lot happening here, Dimitri. The initiation wasn't just a test of strength; it was a wake-up call. The beasts we fought... seem to have evolved. They seem to be a recent phenomenon. There's speculation that black lakes might be influencing the beasts somehow, making them smarter, more aggressive. The King and the Vanguard are extremely concerned."
"Mmm," Dimitri hummed thoughtfully. "Water sources acting as conduits or amplifiers for magical energy isn't unheard of. But to affect beasts to this degree… that's powerful magic."
Haruto nodded, even though Dimitri couldn't see him. "Now, about these anomalies...if the black lakes are artificially created, they could be blocking my vision, which is troubling. It suggests someone doesn't want us looking too closely. Haruto, this is crucial: you need to find out more about these lakes. If they are the culprit, they could be catastrophic not just for that kingdom but for the balance of magical energies globally. You're talking about environmental corruption on a magical scale."
The gravity of Dimitri's words weighed heavily on Haruto. "I understand. I'll start digging deeper into these lakes and what's causing them. Anything else I should be on the lookout for?"
"If you encounter any more altered beasts or strange phenomena, document everything. And be cautious, Haruto. If there's a divine item involved, or worse, a celestial meddling in mortal affairs, you could be in over your head."
"Got it," Haruto affirmed, his resolve hardening. "Just doing my part."
"Keep that communicator close, Haruto. You're likely to need it. And be careful who you trust," Dimitri advised before the band dimmed, signaling the end of their communication.
Haruto stepped out of the alley, his mind contemplating his next moves. First, he would have to finish his initiation as a Warlord. As he stepped down the street the city around him buzzed with the day-to-day activities of its inhabitants, oblivious to the undercurrent of magical and political turmoil that was brewing just beneath the surface. He knew he had to act quickly and discreetly to unravel the mystery of the black lakes and prepare for the challenges that lay ahead. The journey was just beginning, and the stakes were higher than ever.