Seth observed the members of his team scattered around the canal, each focused on their task. The buzzing of the bees had faded, replaced by the murmurs of workers and the splashing of water. Everything was proceeding with a smoothness that felt almost unsettling. Over the years, he had learned to be wary of this deceptive calm that often preceded the worst storms.
"Everything seems under control," he muttered, scanning the surroundings. His men appeared relaxed, perhaps a bit too much. He had reminded them several times to stay vigilant, but routine had made them careless.
Suddenly, a soldier from the Ibara clan, who had remained on the outskirts, froze, his nostrils flaring. Seth, always alert, noticed immediately and approached. The young man, with a scar marring his face, quickly turned toward him, raising a hand to signal something unusual.
"Captain Seth!" he exclaimed. "There's a strange smell… near the riverbank, over there."
