Chapter 36: NOVA returns
Alex remained in the city during the war.
For three days, he played the role of an ordinary traveler, blending seamlessly into the background. His presence was a shadow, unnoticed by the people around him. But while the city remained physically untouched, the atmosphere began to shift, subtle at first, then undeniably tense.
At first, life carried on as usual.
The first day passed without concern. The news from the front lines was the same as always—the Earth Clan and its allies had engaged the beasts, just as expected. Business thrived, civilians carried out their daily routines, children laughed as they played after school, and the youths kept tabs on the latest news through media streams. The war was distant, a problem for others to handle.
By the evening of the second day, the first ripples of unease appeared.
The war was taking longer than it should have.
A beast tide had never lasted more than two days at most. The Earth Clan and the clans under them were renowned for their efficiency, and their ability to crush opposition swiftly. Yet here they were, entering the third day of battle with no sign of resolution.
By the afternoon of the third day, tension had seeped into the city like a slow poison.
The once vibrant markets had dulled. Vendors who had eagerly hawked their wares now exchanged uneasy glances, their voices hushed. Nobles, once boastful of their protection under the Earth Clan, murmured anxiously in private circles.
The warriors stationed within the city, men and women who had once scoffed at the idea of ever being needed, now checked their weapons with stiff hands. The illusionists, who had always been confident in their craft, stood alert, their eyes scanning the streets more frequently as if expecting the enemy to appear at any moment. Even the runesmiths, so assured in the city’s defensive formations, began reinforcing them—just in case.
The illusion of absolute security was cracking.