After a few hours, the fog tore, not abruptly, but like an irregular wound in the air, revealing the imposing silhouette of Lumenis. It wasn't the image of a vibrant capital, but rather a militarized fortress. Walls of runic alloy rose towards a sky that felt heavy, topped by magical turrets pointing into the void. Sandbags, piled in makeshift barricades, flanked the main entrance, where soldiers in reinforced armor patrolled with tense strides.
A guard, his face marked by tension and his magic rifle at the ready, stopped them at the outpost. His runic armor was scorched on one side, and his eyes cautiously scrutinized the fog behind them.
"Halt there. Identify yourselves and explain your presence. The capital is on high alert."
The Last stepped forward, his voice serene despite the brutal landscape. "We are travelers, seeking refuge and help. We've come from the forest... and we carry the remains of a creature. We believe it's of the same kind that attacked you a few hours ago."
The guard narrowed his eyes, disbelief mixed with a hint of horror. "A few hours ago... How do you know that?"
"We were close," Rynn interjected, pointing into the forest with his staff. "We saw a similar one. In fact, we were attacked by it. At first it was a shapeless mass, like something out of a nightmare. But after a while, it became... more physical. We were able to confront it and got this." He pointed to a bulky object on Tyron's shoulder, covered by a tarp, containing something hard and amorphous.
The guard's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the bulge. His jaw tightened. "Shapeless... yes, that's what it was. An abomination. We didn't know what the hell we were dealing with. That's why the Council of Sages declared a high alert. We are prepared for the worst. They've taken it very seriously. They've put everything they have into defense."
Kaela limped, her voice weak but clear. "The tremors... have they stopped? In the forest, magic was almost nonexistent. We felt... empty."
The guard nodded slowly. "Yes, the tremors stopped a while ago. It's strange. No one knows why. But the Council... the Elder Sages are theorizing something big. Something that goes beyond what we know. They haven't let on, they want to be sure before unleashing panic across the capital." His gaze fixed again on the bulge on Tyron's shoulder. "If what you say is true, and those remains are from one of those things... you have to speak with the Sages. Right now."
The Last exchanged a look with his group. The silence in the capital, only interrupted by the wind and the clatter of weapons, was more ominous than any roar. This was not a refuge; it was a trench.
"Lead us," The Last said, and the guard nodded, his rifle ready.
The guard nodded, his face serious. "Straight ahead. The main path will take you there. We can't leave the entrance, this needs to be guarded. My respects, and good luck with the Sages." He gestured to his companion, who was already scanning the fog with a stony gaze.
The Last and his group entered Lumenis. The capital was not the bustling city The Last remembered from tales; it was a war camp. Makeshift tents, reinforced with metal plates and runic barriers, stood alongside monumental buildings. Vendors, with tired faces, offered their wares by the flickering light of magical lanterns, but the atmosphere was not one of commerce, but of survival.
Through the streets, the flow of people was a constant reminder of the urgency. Entire families, carrying bundles of their few belongings, moved silently towards large underground structures: the containment bunkers. They were civilians, most unarmed, seeking refuge from the impending disaster. But there was also a tide of armed people. Warriors in heavy runic armor, mages with staves vibrating with low energy, and even healers, preparing healing blessings with the little stable magic that remained. The air hummed with a mix of tension and preparation.
"Look at this," Rynn murmured, his eyes scanning the panorama. "It's much more than what we saw in the forest. The attack we experienced... that creature wasn't well-formed yet, was it? That's why we could somewhat handle it."
Tyron nodded, his rifle under his arm. "Makes sense. The combat force here... it's abysmal. If those things had already arrived en masse, the capital wouldn't be standing. This is what happens when you have a government that takes threats seriously, Kaela." He nudged her gently.
Kaela, walking with difficulty but without complaint, observed the faces of the inhabitants. "A first attack... yes. But the scale of the preparation is impressive. The Council must have seen something very, very serious. Something more than just a stray creature."
As they advanced, a part of the inner wall caught their attention. An entire sector was open, shattered as if a colossal force had ripped through it. Twisted runic metal, broken mana crystals, deep burn marks on the ground.
"There it is," The Last said, his voice grave. "That's where the beast entered."
"And that's where they forced it out," Rynn added, whispering. "Most likely the Council of Sages, with their arsenal, managed to expel the creature before it could fully solidify. Still unstable, they pushed it back into the forest. And that's where we found it."
The idea sent a shiver down their spines. If the capital, with all its power, had barely managed to repel an "unformed" creature, what awaited them now that the main invasion seemed imminent? The path led them beyond the military zones, into the heart of the city until, finally, the imposing gates of the Council of Sages' Castle rose before them, a bastion of knowledge and power amidst the chaos.