Sebastian watched as the man, Atelion, replied to the distraught woman.
"Sorry, Madam Verena, but Efion didn't make it. His patrol team got swarmed by the monsters, and he ended up lost in the attack."
Verena's face crumpled in anguish. A soul-piercing cry escaped her lips, a raw, haunting sound that seemed to carry the weight of her world.
The surrounding crowd erupted in fearful murmurs, their expressions etched with dread.
Atelion raised a hand, silencing the growing clamor.
"Everyone, listen. The monsters are coming. The first batches will be here in a week or so and we must prepare. Gather your families and return to your homes, and please answer the call when we will make it."
The crowd erupted into a frenzy, with people shouting and pushing as they scrambled to follow the guard's orders.
Sebastian watched, feeling a sense of unease as the city descended into chaos.
