General Rubios and his guards escorted the group to the inn. The structure, though far from luxurious, was the most intact building in town.
It had once been a bustling establishment, catering to travelers and merchants passing through Perey. Now, its wooden beams were charred, and the smell of smoke still lingered in the air.
Servants rushed ahead to prepare rooms for the imperial family, while Rubios gestured for everyone to take a seat in the main hall. The atmosphere was tense, the weight of unspoken questions heavy in the air.
Vorian sat down first, his presence commanding as always, and the rest of the group followed suit. Selena, holding Zeph close, took a seat next to Anastasia, who had been silent since they arrived.
The young princess looked pale, her eyes red and swollen from days of mourning. Her grief hung over her like a dark cloud, palpable even in the stillness of the room.
Sensing the impatience of the gathered group, Rubios wasted no time. He began his report, his voice steady but grim.
"We have found the cause of the crater to be a weapon that came from the skies," he announced.
A ripple of shock passed through the room. Selena's eyes widened, and Vorian raised a brow in surprise. while Zeph, thought about an asteroid. Selena leaned forward slightly, her voice filled with concern.
"Are you saying it was a punishment from the gods?" she asked, her tone carefully measured.
Rubios turned toward Selena, his green eyes respectful but uncertain. "I don't know, Lady Selena. The weapon was never found. But with such destructive power, it could only have been the work of a demigod… or perhaps something even greater. We've never seen anything like this."
Vorian's sharp gaze remained fixed on the general. "Your report to the Emperor also mentioned that you found bodies devoid of mana. Is that correct?"
Rubios nodded gravely. "Yes, my lord. The west side of the town was completely obliterated by the weapon, but the east side, while left standing, was littered with corpses drained of their mana. I suspect everyone in this town is dead, though we've sent out search parties to the mountains, just in case some survivors managed to flee."
At the mention of survivors, Anastasia suddenly stirred. Her voice was weak, trembling. "What about my grandfather? What happened to the Viscount?"
Rubios hesitated, his eyes flicking nervously toward Anastasia before he spoke. "The Viscount survived the initial blast… but he was found in the rubble, dead. His body was also devoid of mana."
A soft sob escaped Anastasia's lips, and she sank back into her chair, her face crumpling in grief. Selena handed Zeph to Elara and quickly moved to comfort the young girl, wrapping her arms around her trembling form. Anastasia's voice was barely a whisper as she asked, "Can I see him?"
Rubios's expression softened. "It can be arranged, Princess, but not yet. We need time to prepare the body."
Anastasia nodded weakly, burying her face in Selena's embrace, her sobs muffled against the older woman's chest. The weight of her loss hung in the air like a heavy shroud, enveloping everyone in the room.
Rubios turned back to Vorian, his voice quieter now, more cautious. "My lord… the bodies without mana. They appeared… frightened."
Vorian's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
Rubios took a deep breath. "Each body was found in a different location—some in the streets, others in houses. We even found children's bodies in cellars, where their parents had likely hidden them. But all of the bodies had the same expression. Fear. Pure, unadulterated terror. It's as if they saw something horrible in their last moments."
Vorian's expression darkened as he absorbed the general's words. "What else have you discovered?"
Suddenly, a shadow in the corner of the inn flickered, and from the darkness, a figure materialized—a man cloaked entirely in black, his face obscured except for his sharp, watchful eyes. Rubios instinctively reached for his sword, but Vorian raised a hand to stop him. The man approached, kneeling before Vorian with a swift, fluid motion.
"Guardian," the man spoke, his voice low and controlled. "We've found the same as the general. However, we also discovered tracks—those of an unknown beast, one with only one leg, capable of jumping great distances."
Rubios bristled. "We didn't find any such tracks."
The man in black didn't flinch. "The tracks were erased by the soldiers' careless passage through the town. But we've secured detailed recordings of them."
Vorian's face remained impassive. "And what do you think caused this disaster?"
The man in black shook his head. "We don't know. But whatever it is, it hasn't gone far."
Vorian nodded slightly, then addressed both Rubios and the shadowed man. "Use all your resources. Scour these mountains. Find whatever caused this, and kill it if you cannot capture it alive."
The man in black dissolved into the shadows once more, vanishing as quickly as he had appeared. Rubios straightened and saluted Vorian. "I will ensure no word of this leaves Perey, my lord. If the people think this is the wrath of the gods, they'll turn against the imperial family."
Vorian nodded approvingly. "See to it."
With that, Vorian dismissed the general, and as Rubios left the room, the tension seemed to lift slightly. Vorian turned to the others, his voice softening.
"It's been a long journey. Rest now. We'll discuss the situation in more detail tomorrow."
One by one, the group stood and retired to the rooms that had been prepared for them, each weighed down by the grim reality of what they had just heard. As the door closed behind them, the inn fell silent, leaving only the distant echo of soldiers searching for answers in the ruins outside.