The Eclipsed Bloom
Chapter 69: Army gathering

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Army gathering

A soft breeze whispered through the room. Leaves scattered across the office floor—and without a sound, a woman appeared.

She stood tall and graceful, her long green hair cascading like vines, eyes glowing with ancient emerald light. Her garments were woven from living leaves, shifting with her every movement. The natural aura surrounding her was calm... but spoke of something older than time itself.

Elric’s gaze sharpened the moment he saw her. He stepped forward with firm steps.

"Elven Dryad... you’ve finally come," he said, voice clipped with urgency. "Are your archers ready?"

The Dryad tilted her head slightly, unreadable. Then she gave a slow, deliberate nod.

Elric exhaled, the tension in his shoulders loosening just slightly. A small smile flickered at the corner of his lips—brief, but genuine.

Then her gaze shifted to Ishara. Her tone darkened, quiet and foreboding."Ishara... this isn’t just a war anymore. It’s chaos. The monsters are joining forces with the demons."

Ishara’s violet eyes widened. "What—?! You’re serious? Then we must move. Now!"

Elric’s faint smile disappeared. His brows furrowed, fists clenched tight at his sides.

Without hesitation, the three left the hall.

Training Grounds

Natalia’s voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

"Students! Stop training and gather immediately!"

Selena froze mid-swing. Her sword hummed with the force of her halted momentum. Slowly, she lowered it, expression calm but eyes alert.

Nearby, Mia wiped the sweat from her brow, shooting a glance at Elira. The two exchanged no words—but fell into step together.

Carl, who had been joking with Mabel at the sparring circle, paused mid-sentence. Instinctively, he raised his blade... but Natalia’s words struck him like a bell. Confused, he lowered it, brows furrowed.

The students quickly gathered.

Natalia stood tall before them, a glowing communication circle dimming at her side. Her voice carried a weight that silenced even the wind.

"Listen well. This is no drill," she began."Each of you has been chosen—handpicked by the Goddess Hera to become Saints. And now... it’s time to prove it."

Whispers rippled through the group.

"The demons have launched an assault. You won’t just be fighting—you’ll be leading armies into battle."

For a moment, silence. Then—

"Demons... those monsters," Selena muttered, her fists trembling as her body shook with rage.

Mia tilted her head. "Huh? Saints? No one said anything about that..."

Elira stepped forward, her expression sharp."Instructor Natalia, with all due respect—why now? The demons haven’t attacked in decades. Why would they suddenly strike?"

Natalia met Elira’s gaze, her expression grim.

"Because the seal has been broken."Her voice dropped lower, almost a whisper."A Demon Lord has escaped... and war has begun. A war unlike any before."

She paused."If we lose... we won’t just die. We’ll be erased. Or worse—enslaved."

Above the Skies of Elarion

Ishara flew high above the clouds, her divine armor shimmering as she soared forward with urgency. The Dryad hovered beside her, carried by wind and nature magic, her leafy garments fluttering like wings.

Suddenly, Ishara stopped mid-air. Her body stiffened.

The Dryad blinked. "Ishara? What’s wrong? We need to hurry."

Without answering, Ishara reached up—untied her blindfold.

Her eyes, bright violet and unnervingly clear, scanned the vast skies.

Something felt... wrong.

Moments later, Elric caught up, riding a summoned construct of glowing runes and energy. His voice was sharp."Ishara, what is it?"

She answered quietly."The world’s mana... it’s thinning."

Elric’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What?! If mana collapses—our mages won’t be able to fight. This changes everything!"

The Dryad’s face turned grave. "Could the demons be disrupting the ley lines? That would explain their sudden coordination with monsters..."

Ishara’s jaw clenched. "If the mana weakens, this war becomes a slaughter. We need to warn them."

Elric nodded firmly. "Only aura users will be effective. Everyone else will fall."

Ishara spread her wings of divine light and shot forward once more, her voice trailing behind like thunder.

Northern Ridge – Demon Encampment

Atop a jagged peak, two figures overlooked the battlefield below. Armies had begun to assemble—humans in silver armor, elves in treetop positions, and mages preparing incantations on raised ground.

The storm of war churned beneath them.

A tall man clad in dark robes grinned, a jagged red crystal glowing at his chest.

"Looks like your father’s awake, Drakon," he said, his tone cold. "Good. The saints’ blood will be ripe for the taking."

Beside him stood Drakon—tall, pale, and silent. His crimson eyes glowed like dying embers beneath a fall of white hair.

His fists clenched.

"Zakar," he growled. "I told you before—he is not my father. And stop talking about killing saints."

Zakar turned to him with a crooked grin.

"You should be thanking me, you know. I didn’t kill you back then after what you did. Because I thought of you as a brother."

Drakon’s glare sharpened. "And I spared you for the same reason. But don’t test my mercy again."

With a sigh, Zakar pulled back his hood.

His face was handsome—black hair, pale skin... but a brutal scar ran down the side of his face like a brand.

His smile faded.

"Drakon. I’m not doing this for power. You know what happens if we don’t take their blood. We’ll end up like the other demons—soulless, empty. You want to feel love? Regret? Pain?"He stepped closer, his voice almost pleading."I’m doing this for you. Because I still see you as my big brother."

Drakon looked away, trembling.His voice cracked. "There has to be another way. I don’t want to hurt her..."

Zakar’s eyes softened—just a little.

Then he turned to the battlefield below, his cape billowing in the wind."Let’s hope you’re right, brother. Or we’re all going to drown in blood."

Drakon clenched his fists, the leather of his gloves creaking under the pressure.

"Why am I even worried about her...?" he muttered under his breath, his voice low and bitter."She probably doesn’t feel anything for me. Not even a little."

The words hung in the cold mountain air, burning more than the wind ever could.

His hand drifted to his chest, resting over his chest. The place where his heart should have been long silent—yet now, it ached.

"But still... I want to protect her," he whispered.

A pause.

Then, with a sigh so soft it barely escaped his lips—

"Even if she never accepts me... not after knowing what I am. A demon."

His eyes clouded. Not with anger, but something far more dangerous.