The Third Prince Of Darkness

After talking with Kayle for a while, we finally got dressed and left the bedroom. Our footsteps echoed through the corridors, piercing the silence. Kayle seemed to have returned to her usual calm demeanor, but her words still echoed in my mind. Her presence beside me gave a sense of peace, yet it also created a feeling of weight. I had no doubt about the sincerity of her emotions, and not responding would have been foolish.

When we heard the door open, Kayle moved toward it, and Roxanne and Marsiel entered. Marsiel still seemed hesitant to even look at me. When I glanced at Roxanne, she rolled her eyes as she looked at both me and Kayle.

"Let's head back to the academy now," Roxanne said as she turned and began walking outside.

We set off again toward the academy. When we reached the teleportation portal and returned to the academy, it was still early—more specifically; the sun was just about to set. As we walked toward the barracks, Kayle suddenly made a suggestion.

"I think we should merge our forces. There's no need for us to have separate units anymore," she said.

"Maybe. If you want, you can do that," I replied.

As we talked about our forces along the way, I noticed that Roxanne seemed increasingly uncomfortable as we neared the barracks. Though I didn't understand why, she seemed on the verge of falling into a depression. I think I might have been neglecting her a bit. Just as I was about to speak to her, a beautiful woman with pink hair emerged from the barracks.

"Ethan! I've been looking for you all day. Where have you been?" Evangeline asked as she walked over to me, wrapping her arms around me in a hug.

"We were at the Ada Federation. What happened? Is something important going on?" I asked.

"Yes, very important. Come inside. I've called everyone here. Even though Catherine didn't want to come, I told her it was something important, something that concerns her too, and she agreed to come."

Evangeline pulled me along by the arm as we headed into the barracks, and Kayle and Roxanne silently followed behind us. Kayle had an expression on her face as though she had sensed something, while Roxanne remained silent and tense, like a shadow.

When we entered through the large doors of the barracks, I saw everyone gathered in the spacious conference room. Catherine was sitting at the head of the table. Her golden hair, which she was trying to fix delicately, had gotten tangled from the slight irritation in her movements. Beside her was Ellera, as always, with her silent, emotionless expression, but when she saw me, the white rings in her eyes began to slowly spin.

Once everyone had taken their seats, Evangeline began to speak. "According to the latest reports, war is literally at the door. Some of Alpshar's vanguard cavalry units are harassing the Tamerid Empire's borders, and they've even raided some villages. Although Alpshar claims that the soldiers harassing the border are a small group of rebellious soldiers, border violations continue day by day. Because of this, the Tamerid Empire, my father, has decided to form a coalition against the Southern Empire."

Evangeline's words created a heavy silence in the room. It seemed like everyone could feel the weight of the news. Catherine's discomfort was especially noticeable. Ellera slightly narrowed her eyes and leaned forward toward the table, as if she was about to say something.

"A coalition... This is not a good omen," Catherine finally said, trying to smooth her golden hair once again with delicate hands. "If a war breaks out, the Tiamat Empire will probably join as well."

But my mind was elsewhere. How had Alpshar managed to stabilize his country so quickly, and how was he so confident that he could start a war? Had he truly performed a miracle? If so, the war really was at the door. Richard would probably accept the coalition war, and that meant I would likely be called to the royal palace soon.

As Evangeline's words reverberated through the room, the tension on everyone's faces was palpable. Catherine had her eyes fixed on the table, clearly deep in thought. Ellera maintained her usual calm demeanor, listening carefully to Evangeline. Roxanne and Kayle, however, remained silent. But it was clear that the atmosphere in the room was growing heavier.

After a while, the silence was broken when Catherine took a deep breath and began speaking.

"Alpshar, the man at the head of the Southern Empire... His name has become so frequent in recent years that it's starting to disturb us. His political and military maneuvers have gone beyond being just a threat to people like us. This is no longer just about the border villages; this man's power is growing."

Evangeline nodded in agreement with Catherine's words. "My father says the same thing. How did Alpshar manage to turn a region that was once in chaos and civil war into something like this in such a short time? Was it just determination, or is there some other power behind him?"

That question deepened the silence in the room. Kayle, for the first time, broke the silence and spoke.

"If Alpshar is putting this kind of pressure on the Tamerid borders and a coalition has to be formed, then this is not just a diplomatic threat. His army is truly prepared. Underestimating this man would be a mistake."

Roxanne, with her arms crossed over her chest, stared at Kayle in silence, but the worry on her face was evident. Finally, she whispered softly, "The beginning of the end."

However, I had heard exactly what Roxanne had said. "What do you mean? The end of what?"

Roxanne flinched at my question and straightened up slightly. All eyes in the room turned to her as everyone awaited her next words. Roxanne tried to hide her tension and began to speak.

"This... What I mean is... Alpshar will win."

Roxanne's words caused a shockwave in the room. The reactions on everyone's faces were varied: Evangeline frowned, Catherine's eyes deepened with concern, and Kayle looked at Roxanne with quiet curiosity. Even Ellera, whose expression rarely changed, seemed to lose her composure for a moment. Roxanne shifted uneasily under their gazes and took a deep breath.

"How do you know this?" I asked.

Roxanne shrank in her seat, but then suddenly straightened up as if she had remembered something. "I'm a seer. I can see things that happen in the future."

For some reason, as these words left her mouth, I smelled a familiar scent, one that seemed animal-like, though I couldn't be sure.

"So you're telling us you can see the future? Did I hear that right?" Kayle asked.

Roxanne took a deep breath, and avoiding everyone's gaze, continued speaking.

"Yes. This ability of mine is something I can't fully control. I see some things about the future, but the images are usually blurry and fragmented. But this time, everything was very clear. Alpshar's army will crush the coalition. Big cities will fall, and there will be a lot of bloodshed."

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became even heavier. Evangeline leaned forward, resting her hands on the table, her brow furrowed.

"This is a very serious claim, Anna. If you say you can see the future, why haven't you mentioned it before?"

Roxanne's voice cracked. "Because it's just a prophecy! I might be wrong. Things might change. But ever since I saw this vision, I've felt this unease inside me. I didn't know what to do."

"If Anna really saw something like this, we can't just ignore it. But this is still just a possibility. The decisions we make shape the future. Strengthening the coalition and preparing a strategic defense is still in our hands." Catherine said.

"No... No one can win against him. So please, don't leave the academy," Roxanne said, especially looking me directly in the eyes.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly grew even more tense. Roxanne's words, like a prophecy, hit the walls of the room, and the anxiety that appeared on everyone's faces created a moment of tension. Kayle seemed to be struggling to keep himself from responding to Roxanne's words. Her fearful words had created a sense of unease among all of us.

"Leave the academy?" I asked. "Why? What do you expect?"

Roxanne's eyes seemed to dive deep, as if sensing a void within me. "Because I feel like something is wrong. This war won't go as you expect. If you don't leave, maybe you'll all survive."

"Does this damned cat have anything to do with this? Because I'm about to kill it since it's secretly watching us right now," I said, shocking Roxanne.

Roxanne stared at me with wide eyes, biting her lip, and took a step back. Everyone's attention immediately turned toward me. Roxanne's expression was a mix of shock and fear in response to what I had said. Kayle narrowed his eyes for a moment and carefully examined me.

"A cat? What kind of cat are you talking about?" Kayle asked, his voice filled with deep curiosity but also seriousness.

"Yes, that cat is involved in this situation, but it's completely harmless," Roxanne said.

The atmosphere in the room grew even more strained. Roxanne's words had planted a new question mark in everyone's minds. Kayle's gaze was both careful and skeptical, yet also curious. Roxanne's use of the word "harmless" created a great deal of uncertainty in everyone's mind.

My eyes seemed to be piercing through Roxanne. I was trying to make sense of her fearful expression, but for now, seeing how tense she was, I decided not to push her any further. Chapter Stay: