The sky was a tranquil blue as the sun began its ascent, casting a soft light over the lands of Lorithen, a small province at the kingdom's edge. A gentle wind blew, stirring the surface of the small river like a silver ribbon. But in the heart of this quiet landscape, the open training grounds were alive with motion.

  The only sounds were the clash of swords and the scuff of boots on uneven stone. The ring of steel on steel rose and fell, vanishing as quickly as it came, as if the land itself were watching in silence.

  At the edge of the grounds stood an old man. His back was straight, his hands clasped behind him, his body unweakened by age. He wasn't like the knights who boasted bulging, useless muscle. His was a lean strength, honed by years of combat where a single mistake meant death. His face bore the marks of time—faint lines at the corners of his blue eyes and a short, partially gray beard—but they did nothing to soften his steel-like resolve.

  "Any corrections, Sir Gerald?" one of the young knights asked, sweat dripping from his brow after a grueling sparring session.

  Gerald didn't answer right away, his gaze calm and measured. Then, he raised a hand, gesturing to the young man's grip.

  "You're holding the sword like it's dead weight... not an extension of your arm." His voice was low but firm.

  The young knight paused, then tightened his grip as instructed, trying to correct his stance. He wasn't the only one who reacted. The other knights, who had been locked in their own drills, began to ease the intensity of their blows. The atmosphere had shifted, as if something unseen had crept onto the field, making the air feel heavy.

  Gerald hadn't spoken, but he felt it too.

  From the edge of the training grounds, a man was running at full speed. His metal armor reflected the morning light, his footsteps heavy, as if carrying news heavier still. It wasn't an emergency that demanded a scream, but it was far from ordinary.

  When he reached Gerald, he stopped, gasping for breath with a hand on his knee. He finally looked up, his eyes filled with a worry he didn't try to hide. "Sir… we have a disaster!"

  Gerald was not a man given to overreaction. He didn't move, nor did he jump to conclusions before hearing the details. But he could see that the soldier before him wouldn't have come in such a state if the matter wasn't urgent.

  "Speak, Yutaba."

  Yutaba swallowed hard. "Wyverns… a massive swarm of them. They're heading this way!"

  His final words sent a ripple of unease through the trainees. Some knights tightened their grips on their swords, while others looked to their commander, waiting for his reaction.

  Gerald didn't flinch. He was not a man who made room for panic. Instead, he raised his eyes to the clear sky, as if measuring the distance, as if listening to the wind itself. Finally, in a voice that was steady and quiet, he gave the order.

  "Summon the mages. We'll need a barrier to cover the entire area."

  There was no time for doubt or debate. The soldiers moved instantly, commands were issued, and within moments, mages began assembling in the square. Gerald watched them for a moment, then turned to his knights. His voice was low but carried. "We will engage them outside the barrier."

  As the blue glow of the magical barrier began to rise, the knights were already in position. Their ranks were tight, their breaths tense, their swords drawn.

  On the horizon, the swarm appeared. Dozens of Wyverns filled the sky, their massive wings beating powerfully, stirring dust from the ground and casting enormous shadows. Their roars filled the air, and their numbers were far greater than anyone had anticipated.

  But Gerald did not waver. "Now!" he commanded, his voice sharp.

  The battle began.

  With a deadly calm, he drew his sword from its sheath and focused his energy. The air around him seemed to warp, the soil at his feet loosened, and then he launched himself into a leap that was not natural, but propelled by wind magic. In an instant, he shot through the sky, heading straight for the nearest Wyvern.

  The sword in his hand flashed. Before the beast knew what was happening, the blade had sliced through its neck. A deafening shriek echoed across the land as its body plummeted to the earth.

  Below, the knights didn't hesitate. While Gerald fought in the sky, they unleashed a volley of attacks. Swords, spears, and even enchanted arrows rained down on the flying beasts. But their numbers were overwhelming.

  Cries of pain began to cut through the din of battle. Some knights were hit; others barely managed to dodge lethal claws. Sweat mixed with blood, and the ground became a canvas of violent combat.

  Gerald sensed it. He was not the type of commander to let his men be slaughtered for a losing battle. He could fight longer, but there was no time for pride.

  "Fall back to the barrier!" His voice was a sharp, unarguable command.

  The wounded knights, supported by their comrades, retreated swiftly into the magical shield, where the mages were still struggling to hold it firm.

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  Gerald remained outside. The Wyverns began to claw at the barrier, their talons striking the magical energy and sending powerful shockwaves through the air. Some of the mages fell to their knees from the strain, but they did not break. Gerald stood his ground, sword in hand, eyes fixed on the monsters before him. He fought on, parrying, dodging, and striking where he could. He moved with the expertise of a veteran warrior, protecting the barrier as best he could.

  After what felt like an eternity, the Wyverns began to withdraw. The massive swarm turned and flew towards a nearby valley, where they remained.

  When they had finally vanished over the horizon, Gerald took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a second, then turned and walked back inside the barrier.

  "Sir Gerald, are you alright?" the knights asked, their voices filled with concern.

  Gerald sat down, exhausted. "Yes, I'm fine."

  Once the Wyverns were gone, every one of the mages collapsed from exhaustion. Gerald managed a faint smile. "You all did well." Then, his expression turned serious. "The threat isn't over. They may return. Send a scout party to track them."

  Sometime later, the party returned with a report: the Wyverns had occupied the valley. They brought the news to Gerald, who began to think. He decided to send a request to the Adventurer's Guild for aid in eliminating the threat.

  The request was sent to the Guild in the city of Levander. A few days later, word came back that two adventurers had accepted the quest. Everyone prepared for the coming battle, waiting only for the adventurers to arrive.

  But as they waited, shocking news came.

  All the Wyverns in the valley had been eliminated.

  Stunned, Gerald went to see the Wyverns' corpses for himself, accompanied by his knights. When they reached the valley, the sight was staggering. What surprised them most was that every single Wyvern had been killed by a sword.

  Gerald dismounted and approached the bodies to inspect them. A look of profound shock crossed his face, so intense that all the knights noticed.

  "The sword… that killed them," Gerald whispered to himself. "I'm sure of it. It's that sword."

  He turned to his knights and announced, "The threat is gone. We are returning now."

  As they rode back, Gerald was lost in thought.

  That evening, inside Gerald's home.

  Gerald sat at the dinner table with his family, clearly miles away.

  "Dear, is something troubling you?" his wife, Catherine, asked, breaking through his thoughts.

  He turned to her. "No… nothing. Just thinking about work."

  Julian, his eldest son, chimed in. "Father, you haven't been yourself since we returned from the valley."

  Rosalyn, his youngest daughter, added, "I understand being lost in thought. All those Wyverns were wiped out so quickly. But shouldn't that be a relief? We didn't have to fight or lose anyone."

  "I'm not thinking about the Wyverns, specifically," Gerald said. "It's just… something about the bodies felt familiar. It was..."

  Suddenly, a knock came at the door. Julian rose and went to open it. He found an employee from the Adventurer's Guild standing on the doorstep.

  "Good evening. Is Sir Gerald here?" the man asked.

  Julian nodded. "Yes. Please, come in."

  By then, Gerald had gotten up and approached the man.

  "Sir Gerald," the employee began, "I was sent by the Adventurer's Guild. I've come to follow up on the request you posted. Have the Wyverns been dealt with?"

  Gerald nodded. "They have." He then asked, "Why have you come to investigate?"

  "The two adventurers who took the job came to claim their reward," the employee explained. "They said they had eliminated the Wyverns, but they didn't bring back the signed document from you."

  Gerald's eyes widened. "Are the adventurers still in the city?"

  "Yes. I just came to confirm the job was completed so they can receive their payment."

  Gerald stared at the man for a moment, his mind racing. The adventurers were still here. That meant he could meet them. This was not something he could ignore. He needed to know who they were.

  He took a deep breath and asked in a steady voice, "Where are they now?"

  The employee raised his eyebrows but answered promptly. "They're in the city, waiting for approval on their payment."

  Gerald paused, then said, "Could you deliver a message to them for me? Tell them I would like to meet them at my home. I don't wish to delay them, so I can come to the Guild if that's more convenient."

  The employee looked slightly surprised but didn't object. "Of course, sir. I'll deliver the message immediately."

  "Thank you," Gerald nodded. "I will await their response."

  With that, the employee left, heading back to the Guild.

  The next morning, inside the Guild.

  "Mr. Hikari, Miss Mirai. We have confirmed the completion of your quest. Here is your reward."

  Hikari took the pouch of coins and put it in his bag. As he and Mirai were about to leave, the receptionist spoke again. "Excuse me, before you go. An invitation was extended to you. Sir Gerald would like you to come to his home."

  Hikari was wary of the invitation; a sense of unease settled in his gut. He glanced at Mirai and saw she was completely uninterested.

  "We apologize," Hikari told the receptionist, "but we're in a hurry and have other things to do. Please give Sir Gerald our regrets."

  Mirai glanced at him, surprised that he had refused, but said nothing.

  The receptionist understood and nodded. "Very well. We will inform him."

  After they left the Guild, Hikari walked with quiet steps, unable to hide his anxiety. Mirai strolled beside him with her usual calm, her face an unreadable mask. After a moment of silence, she spoke in her soft voice.

  "Why did you refuse to go?"

  Hikari didn't look at her, answering in a low tone. "I have a bad feeling about this. Those people who want the sword have been watching us. Maybe Gerald was watching too and saw you take down the Wyverns. I'm worried it's a trap."

  Mirai continued walking in silence for a few moments, then said coolly, "If he is an enemy, I will eliminate him."

  Hikari stopped for a second, looking at her, though her response didn't surprise him.

  "That would remove the danger," Mirai continued in the same calm tone. "And since we already refused the invitation at the Guild, if I kill Gerald and his men, no one will connect it back to us."

  Hikari sighed, trying to sort through his thoughts. He wasn't sure if Gerald was truly an enemy, but caution was necessary. "So, you're thinking of going?" he asked after a moment.

  Mirai nodded without hesitation. "Of course. If he's a threat, it's better to end it now."

  Hikari watched her for a moment, then turned his gaze forward again. He wasn't entirely convinced, but he saw no point in arguing with her.

  "Alright," he said finally. "We'll go."

  And so, their decision made, the two of them headed directly for Gerald's province. They walked through the quiet roads, making for the territory he governed. They didn't know the exact location of his house, but they didn't expect it to be difficult. It wasn't a large area, and the houses all looked similar in their simplicity, but one was bound to be different.

  "We'll start at the valley, then head to the area he governs from there," Hikari said, walking beside her.

  "It won't be complicated," Mirai replied, her voice even. "The largest house will be his. We won't have to search for long."

  And so they walked on, heading toward Gerald's home and whatever awaited them there.

  (To be continued...)