One day remained.
Morning arrived quietly.
Perhaps too quietly.
Arix woke up to sunlight entering through his window.
He stared at the ceiling for a few seconds.
Then— his eyes widened.
“Tomorrow.” He jumped out of bed.
“Tomorrow!” His mother, who was preparing breakfast, looked toward him.
“What?” Arix ran into the room.
“Tomorrow!” His mother smiled.
“Oh.” She placed a hand on her cheek.
“I wonder what tomorrow is.” Arix stared at her.
“Mom!” She laughed.
“I know.” Arix grinned.
“I’m turning seven.” His father looked over from the doorway.
“Still a whole day away.” “That’s practically tomorrow.” “Because it is.” Arix smiled.
For the first time in several days— he wasn’t thinking about the forest.
— After breakfast, Arix went outside.
The village looked different from yesterday.
Not dramatically.
Just enough.
More guards were stationed around the northern road.
Several adventurers were carrying supplies toward the guild.
Some shops had closed earlier than usual.
People spoke in quieter voices.
But nobody seemed to be panicking.
Arix walked through the streets.
He stopped near the fountain.
Then near the market.
Then outside the guild.
He looked around.
Everything was almost normal.
Almost.
— Inside the Adventurer’s Guild— Kael stood over the same map.
The red markings had increased.
Renn leaned against the wall.
“So?” Kael didn’t answer.
Renn looked at him.
“You’ve been staring at that map for ten minutes.” “I’m thinking.” “That usually ends badly.” Kael ignored him.
Mira stood beside the table.
“The readings changed again.” Kael finally looked up.
“How much?” “Not enough to trigger another warning.” “But?” Mira looked toward the northern forest.
“But enough that I don’t like it.” Lena folded her arms.
“The guards still haven’t found anything.” “That’s the problem,” Mira said.
Renn raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing is better than something.” “Not always.” The room fell quiet.
Then— Arix’s voice came from outside.
“KAEL!” Kael closed his eyes.
Renn smiled.
“There goes the silence.” Arix entered the guild.
“Kael!” “I heard you the first time.” Arix grinned.
“What are you doing?” “Working.” “On what?” “Something boring.” Arix looked at the map.
“That doesn’t look boring.” Kael immediately moved the map slightly.
“It is.” Arix narrowed his eyes.
“You’re hiding something.” Renn laughed.
“Good luck.” Kael sighed.
“You’re six.” “Seven tomorrow.” “Still six.” Arix crossed his arms.
Kael smiled.
“Go enjoy your last day of being six.” Arix thought about that.
Then— “I don’t think being seven will feel different.” Renn laughed.
“Probably not.” Arix smiled.
“Good.” He turned around.
“I’m going to find something fun.” Kael watched him leave.
His smile slowly disappeared.
— Arix spent the afternoon wandering around the village.
He helped a merchant carry a box.
He raced two children down the street.
He nearly fell into the fountain.
His mother found him covered in dust.
His father told him not to climb the old storage building.
Arix climbed it anyway.
By evening— he had forgotten about the forest completely.
For a while.
— As the sun began to set, Arix returned home.
His mother was preparing dinner.
His father sat outside.
Arix dropped beside him.
“Dad.” “Yes?” “Do you remember when I was little?” His father looked at him.
“You’re still little.” “I’m almost seven.” His father smiled.
“Right.” Arix looked toward the sky.
“When I’m older, I’m going to become an adventurer.” His father was quiet for a moment.
“Why?” Arix thought about it.
“Because they get to see everything.” “Everything?” “Cities.
Mountains.
Other realms.” His father smiled.
“That’s a big dream.” “I know.” Arix looked at him.
“Can I do it?” His father placed a hand on his head.
“If that’s what you want.” Arix smiled.
“Then I will.” — Night came.
The village became quiet.
One by one, lights disappeared from the windows.
The northern gate remained guarded.
The guild remained open.
Nobody knew exactly what was happening beyond the forest.
Nobody knew what had already happened beneath it.
— Far beneath the trees— the Gatekeeper stood before the opened boundary.
The ancient chamber was no longer silent.
Dark energy moved through the broken seal.
Behind it— the sealed being remained.
Its enormous body shifted slowly in the darkness.
Scales scraped against ancient stone.
A wing moved.
Then stopped.
The Gatekeeper remained motionless.
His crimson eyes watched the darkness.
He had not left.
He would not.
Not yet.
— Far away— the fortress was no longer quiet either.
The messenger’s warning had spread.
Officers moved through the halls.
Orders were being written.
Soldiers were being awakened.
Scouts were being dispatched.
The Empire was coming.
But nobody knew exactly when.
Nobody knew exactly where.
And nobody in the village knew that the warning had even been delivered.
— Back in the village— Arix lay in bed.
He stared at the ceiling.
Tomorrow.
He smiled.
He closed his eyes.
For him— tomorrow was simple.
Tomorrow he would turn seven.
He had no idea what the world was preparing for.
Outside his window, the night remained peaceful.
The village slept.
The forest remained silent.
And somewhere beyond the darkness— something waited.