A heavy silence descended on the room after Zahr's horrifying revelation. The woman, the fire, the destruction – it painted a picture of a world-ending threat, a lone warrior capable of leveling kingdoms with a flick of her wrist.
Veil felt a flicker of fear, quickly extinguished by a surge of determination. He may not fully understand his own abilities, but he knew he couldn't stand by while this woman ravaged the world.
Daniel broke the silence first, his voice tight with urgency. "We need to send riders to the other nations immediately. They need to know about this threat, to prepare for the possibility of…" he trailed off, the weight of the word "war" hanging heavy in the air.
Zahr, his hand gripping the bedsheet so tightly his knuckles were white, rasped, "There's more. Her eyes… they were crimson. I've heard whispers about such magic, ancient and forbidden."
Daniel's brows furrowed. "Whispers of what?"
"Of a power called… Crimson Sight," Zahr said, the name leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. "They say it allows the user to see the world's raw magic, to manipulate it on an unprecedented scale. It's said to be a path consumed by madness and destruction."
The weight in the room seemed to double. Crimson Sight. A magic that could fuel such devastation? It painted a chilling picture of a foe driven not by ambition or conquest, but by something far more terrifying – unchecked power.
"We can't confirm these whispers, Zahr," Daniel said finally. "But we need to assume the worst. We'll send riders to all the major nations, detailing the events in Xaria and warning them of this potential threat."
He turned to Veil, a flicker of hope in his usually stoic face. "Veil, you've shown incredible potential for magic. Sans speaks highly of your progress. Perhaps, once you've honed your skills, you could be part of a delegation sent to a bordering nation, to share this information firsthand."
Veil's heart hammered in his chest. A delegation? He was barely learning to control his newfound abilities, and now he was being thrust into the heart of international politics? But before he could voice his apprehension, a voice interrupted.
"Veil may be powerful," Kar said, her voice surprisingly serious, "but he's still raw. Sending him on a diplomatic mission is a risk. What if this Crimson Sight woman attacks Ord? We need him here, ready to defend the city."
Kar had always been fiercely protective of Ord, her home. To see her worry etched on her face, even a touch of fear, was a stark reminder of the danger that loomed.
Daniel hesitated, caught between two valid arguments. "Kar's right," he admitted. "But we also need to spread the word as fast as possible. We can't isolate ourselves."
A knock on the door interrupted them. A young imperial messenger entered, his face pale.
"Sir," he stammered, bowing to Daniel. "There's… there's an urgent message from the northern border. They report… a massive army gathering on the frontier-"
The room erupted in gasps. Another threat? It was almost too much to bear.
Zahr, his voice rough with a mix of pain and determination, spoke up. "It's the Empire. They've always wanted to expand their territory. With Xaria gone… they see an opportunity."
"Of course they do, those greedy holy bastards", Daniel said as he destroyed the granite door behind him with his fist. For some reason, Daniel's face burnt with extreme rage, almost resembling a demon.
"Why can't we send Sans for reconnaissance in the border?"
"Great idea Veil, but we can't take action on our own. I have my limits as the guild master and the kingdom's intelligence division is already on it. They'll be recruiting soon for the impending battle"
The messenger, finally getting the courage to deliver the actual message, said, "Well Mr Daniel, the king has issued summons for adventurers above B class and all the guild masters across the nation in the capital, within a month. The people who participate in the battle will be lavishly rewarded. The king himself has issued the order and signed this. Please stamp here"
Daniel got even more angry after hearing this. The room was filled with his aura, so intense that the low class adventurers were gasping for air.
"Calm the FUCK DOWN, DANIEL"
A well endowed woman with a strands of silver on her hair, smacked his head and hugged him from the behind. "Reimi you're back?"
For some reason the woman and Daniel exchanged the wettest kiss with the potential to make a crowd of impotent men horny.
"Da-Daniel... please, in private"
"Oh, sorry Kar. Well, this is my lovely wife, Veil. She is the deputy guildmaster"
"I heard what y'all were talking about. When do we depart, Dan?"
"We depart in five days. Ulysses, brief all the adventures, B class and above, about the draft. Everyone here, prepare yourselves."
Everybody, including Zahr for some reason, said "YES SIR!" In the loudest way possible and blushed even harder.