The Dreamer's POV

As dawn broke, a gentle hue of orange painted the horizon, signifying the start of a new day.

Stirrings could be heard from the camp, the clatter of dismantling equipment and the murmur of hushed voices breaking the serene silence of the early morning.

One by one, the troops roused, rubbing sleep from their eyes as they set about their tasks with a renewed sense of purpose.

As the sun continued to climb higher in the sky, the camp was broken down, with every piece of equipment packed away neatly.

The once lively site now bore no evidence of their overnight stay, leaving behind only a patch of flattened grass as a silent testimony to their presence.

They moved as a single unit, their steps synced to an unspoken rhythm, their expressions mirroring a sense of anticipation and excitement.

Their destination was clear - the Lyma Capital.

In a hidden grove, their horses waited, heads drooping from a peaceful slumber. They stirred as the men approached, snorting and stamping their hooves in apparent anticipation.

The troops mounted their respective steeds, adjusting the saddles before they set off.

Leading the pack was Luke, their unwavering leader, his gaze set firmly on the road ahead. He spurred his horse into a quick pace, his posture radiating a sense of urgency that seemed to have taken root overnight.

The men behind him followed suit, their horses' hooves kicking up clouds of dust that hung in the air behind them.

A sense of guilt lingered in their hearts, visible on their faces if one looked closely enough. It was a shared sentiment, one born from the realization of their negligible contribution to the success of the expedition.

They had been spectators more than participants, their roles seeming insignificant compared to the singularly impressive feat of their leader.

They had watched as Luke single-handedly infiltrated the enemy base, took down the Captain, and dismantled their operation, all without so much as a scratch on him.

Compared to him… what were they?

They felt like extras in a grand play, their parts inconsequential in the larger scheme of things.

The lead role, the man of the hour, was none other than Luke, their leader.

Yet, even in their guilt, there was an underlying sense of pride. Pride in being led by such a man, and pride in serving under his command.

With these mixed emotions, they continued their journey, the Lyma Capital growing closer with each passing moment.

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[00 Months: 16 Days: 01 Hours]

As I pushed my horse to speed up, I could feel a strange restlessness gnawing at me from within.

There was this weird itch in the pit of my stomach, a sort of inexplicable discomfort that I couldn't put my finger on.

I urged my steed to go faster, leaving a trail of dust in my wake.

'Why am I feeling like this?'

Perhaps it was the longing to see Seraphina again that made me impatient.

Maybe I was eager to witness the look of surprise on her face when I told her about our victory.

I could almost picture it now; her radiant smile, the pride in her eyes, the way she would rush into my arms in her excitement.

It was a picture that I held dear to my heart, one that brought a smile to my lips as I rode.

Yet, beneath the joyous anticipation, there was an undercurrent of unease.

It was as if a dark shadow had taken root in my heart, casting a veil of uncertainty over my joy. This unknown feeling made me anxious, the ticking of the unseen clock growing louder with each passing moment.
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'No… calm down, Mikey.'

I shook my head, trying to shake off the discomfort.

It was useless to ponder on uncertainties when I had no clue what was causing them. I decided to focus on the task at hand, on getting to the capital as fast as I could.

Riding with the wind whipping through my hair, I clung onto the one certainty I had – Seraphina. I let her image fill my mind, a beacon of light guiding me through the fog of unease.

Despite the odd sensation, I knew I had to keep going, keep riding.

'Sooner or later… I'll see what's going on.'

*********

{A Day and Some Hours Later}

[00 Months: 17 Days: 9 Hours]

"A-ah…?"

My eyes widened as I caught sight of the Lyma Capital.

"W-what… what is this…?"

The once vibrant and bustling city was now a smoky wasteland. Dark, ominous clouds hung heavily over the city, and plumes of thick smoke rose from the horizon, polluting the otherwise clear blue sky.

Even from my long distance from the capital, I could see it.

The horror.

A cold wave of shock washed over me as I took in the catastrophic sight before me.

The capital was on fire!

I heard gasps from behind me as the rest of the troops caught up. Their eyes mirrored my own horror as they watched the city burn.

"What should we do?" Drius asked, his voice a shaky whisper.

As I turned to him, I could see the fear in his eyes, the same that could be found in the faces of the soldiers who were watching me with wide, scared eyes.

For a moment, I felt paralyzed, the gravity of the situation weighing me down.

The uneasy feeling I had been experiencing all along suddenly made sense.

'No… this can't be happening. It can't!'

An icy fear gripped my heart, squeezing the life out of it as a thousand thoughts rushed through my mind.

The Lyma Family, the Duke, Seraphina... EVERYONE!

Panic threatened to consume me as I watched with gaping eyes.

"Leader, what should we do?!" Suddenly, I was brought back to reality as Drius shook me.

"A-ah…" I looked around at the shocked faces of my troops, my gaze finally resting on Theo.

His face was white as a sheet, his eyes wide with fear.

This was no time to show weakness. Fortunately, all my rabid feelings were suppressed by <Visionary>.

Just in time too.

"I'm going to check it out," I declared, my voice filled with determination. "Protect Theo at all costs!"

Before anyone could say anything, I took action instantly.

Leaving behind my horse, I activated my <Teleportation> Skill, disappearing from the spot.

I wasn't going to instantly warp to the city, but I could get as close as possible.

As I teleported towards the city, my heart pounded in my chest.

My mind was filled with images of the worst-case scenarios, but I clung onto a shred of hope.

Maybe, just maybe, everything was still okay.

Yet, something in the pit of my stomach told me otherwise.

It was a chilling feeling, one that made my blood run cold. Something had gone horribly wrong. And now, it was up to me to find out what.

'Are you safe… Seraphina? Duke Damien? Duchess? Everyone? Please… please be safe!'

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[A/N]

Catastrophe strikes, and now we are left wondering how things devolved into this mess.

Well, we'll see how all of this began next chapter.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers!