In a peaceful, quiet village.
All the villagers, greedily lost in sweet dreams, were jolted awake by the thunderous announcement.
Stunned, bewildered… two seconds later, rows of dark houses flickered to life with candlelight.
Clatter, clatter… The villagers threw on clothes, opened doors, and poured into the street, still cursing under their breath.
"Which bastard was that?!"
"Pulling a prank in the middle of the night—can't a man get some rest?!"
"That was magic! A Red Lizard Wizard!!"
"Damn it! Those thugs push us around every day; I've hated them for ages…"
In an instant, curses rang out up and down the street and the whole village seethed.
After more than a minute of swearing, the crowd finally calmed.
"You think it might be real?"
"Don't be stupid, of course it's a prank! Invading foreign Wizards? Impossible!"
"Speaking of which, I've felt uneasy all day, like something big was coming. Just now I was so restless I couldn't sleep—maybe…"
"Stop imagining things and go back to bed!"
"Well… do as you like, I'm taking the wife and kids to hide in that safehouse."
Coward! If enemies really come knocking, the Red Lizard lot will be our shield. What's there to fear?"
"I'm afraid of getting caught in the cross-fire! Who knows what those Wizards might do! My life matters more than my pride!"
The villagers' reactions were mixed.
Some believed, some doubted, some sneered.
Weston had no mind to care about any of it.
He had delivered the warning; whether they lived or died now was up to fate.
Under the moonlight, Weston led Mavis through the noisy streets, heading slowly toward the guild.
The earlier sprint and mass message had cost him stamina and magic; his steps were heavy.
Three more minutes passed before he stood before the tavern doors.
Creeeak—
Weston pushed open the guild tavern's door.
The lingering stench of ale and sweat rushed at him in one sour wave.
Stifling his disgust, he looked toward the only light inside.
Beside the oil-lamp sat Guild Master Zeeself, sipping wine, a rare wistful softness on his face.
Zera lay quietly in his arms, sleeping so soundly she hadn't even twitched at Weston's mass alert.
"Weston, Mavis—why are you two here?"
Seeing the small figures enter, Zeeself stared in surprise.
A moment later understanding dawned: "So… that message just now was from you, Weston?"
"Yes, it was me."
Weston nodded, his face dark as still water.
Zeeself sighed. "Never imagined your magic could do that—I underestimated you."
"Guild Master, you move fast!"
"You're already fully dressed and back at the guild in no time?"
"Or…"
Weston's gaze shifted to the many bottles standing on the table.
"Did you know tonight's disaster was coming?"
Mavis beside him instantly sensed something wrong.
Zeeself and Zera didn't live in the guild—why were father and daughter here so late?
After Weston's alert the village streets were chaos, and the pair had trudged to the guild—so why did Zera still sleep like a log?
Only one explanation fit.
Zeeself had long known the Blue Skull would invade.
He sat drinking because the foe was too strong, death certain, and he wanted his last moments peaceful.
He kept Zera asleep because Blue Skull was ruthless—better she die serenely than survive the massacre alone.
"No way…"
At that instant Mavis felt her hands go ice-cold.
"Weston, you clever kid—no wonder you awakened magic so young…"
Zeeself sighed.
"Yes, I knew this calamity would strike tonight."
"The Blue Skull master and I are old rivals; we clashed many times when we were young. In one duel I lost everything and fled back to Tenrou Island in disgrace."
"Some time ago he somehow heard of the 'Tenrou Jade' on the island and sent me a letter demanding I steal it for him."
"Tenrou Jade?!"
"That's what they're after?!"
While Weston stared, Mavis cried out, "The Tenrou Jade is the treasure our line has guarded for generations, how could we give it to outsiders?!"
Zeeself nodded. "Exactly what I thought, so I refused. The result… is what you see now."
"They plan to seize the Tenrou Jade?!"
"Most likely—and more!"
Zeeself said, "That man is insatiably greedy; whatever he wants he'll obtain at any cost. Every raid he strips all valuables, burns what he can't carry, and leaves no survivors."
As he spoke, Zeeself looked down at Zera in his arms.
"I meant to hide her in the cellar, but if everyone on the island dies, leaving her alone might be crueler. It's better if she drifts away in peace."
"But now… there may be a third path!"
Zeeself suddenly set Zera down, stood, walked to Weston and Mavis, and dropped to his knees!
"Weston, Mavis, will you protect Zara and keep her alive for me?"
His face was grief-stricken, tears streaming.
The move caught Weston completely off guard.
"Guild Master, you—"
Zeeself went on, "Blue Skull's goal is to wipe out Red Lizard and plunder the island's resources."
"Most islanders are ordinary folk; only the guild Wizards pose a real threat."
"In other words, their prime target is me, Red Lizard's Guild Master. As long as I'm alive they won't stop."
"But if I stay to hold the rear and lead the guild Wizards in a last stand, the rest of the island can use that chance to reach your safehouse and survive."
"After sending the village your warning you could've hidden, yet you came here to tell me—hoping I'd stay behind so Zera could live."
"Am I wrong?!"