Kapitel 17: Rising Threats.

Some days had passed since Celosia's arranged marriage, and the village had finally returned to its usual rhythm. But the peaceful times they had briefly enjoyed were about to be interrupted again.

Reports of strange and dangerous creatures, unseen for centuries, began to spread. Whispers of dragons, chimeras, and other magical beasts roaming the land made the villagers uneasy. It was a foreboding sign of what was to come.

Kiyoshi stood at the village gate, his eyes fixed on the horizon. His senses were on high alert, but something deeper stirred within him—the thrill of an impending challenge.

Beside him, Celosia paced nervously. Her hands glowed with a faint aura of water magic. Rajieru, standing nearby, seemed more composed, though his eyes betrayed the weight of his ability. His precognition had given him visions of possible futures—none of them easy, all of them uncertain.

"We need to prepare," Kiyoshi said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind his words. "If the creatures reach the village, there will be casualties. We can't let that happen."

Rajieru nodded, his brow furrowed as his thoughts flickered between what could be and what might come. "The future is shifting constantly. I can't predict exactly when they'll come, but the threat is real." His voice was steady, but the hint of anxiety suggested the gravity of what he'd seen in his visions.

Celosia crossed her arms, worry etched across her face. "It's not just about fighting them off. The magical beasts—some of them are ancient and powerful. I don't know if we're strong enough yet."

Kiyoshi turned to her, his eyes softening, though his voice remained firm. "We've trained for this. We—"

Suddenly, a distant scream pierced the air, cutting through the calm like a blade. All three of them froze, their attention snapping toward the village entrance. Moments later, a villager staggered into view, clutching their side, their clothes soaked in blood.

Panic rippled through the village as people rushed to the injured man. His eyes were wide with terror, his breaths shallow and laboured.

"They're... coming," he gasped, barely able to speak. "The beasts... they're heading this way... a horde of them... we couldn't stop them..."

Kiyoshi's heart raced, his mind already calculating. He glanced at Rajieru and Celosia, their faces pale but determined.

"Get him to the healers," Kiyoshi ordered, his voice steady despite the chaos unfolding around them. "We need to gather everyone. Now."

Rajieru's eyes narrowed as a fresh wave of visions washed over him, flashes of the coming battle that grew sharper and more menacing. "It's worse than I thought," he muttered, his expression tightening. The futures he had glimpsed now felt inevitable, and the weight of that knowledge pressed heavily on his shoulders.

Celosia, her hands trembling slightly, took a deep breath and steadied herself. "We need to prepare the defences... quickly."

As the villagers hurried to tend to the wounded and brace for the impending attack, the once peaceful village now buzzed with urgency. The threat they'd only whispered about was now at their doorstep.

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The village council had been convened for the first time in years. Hokuto, the village chief, stood at the head of the gathering, his expression grim, as shadows passed across his hardened features in the flickering firelight. Elders and warriors sat in a semicircle around him, murmuring amongst themselves as the weight of the situation became clearer with each passing moment.

"We've all heard the reports," Hokuto began, his voice stern yet calm, cutting through the low hum of voices. "The creatures of Ethera have awoken, and they're moving closer to our lands. These are not mere animals—they are magical beasts, some as old as Ethera itself. We are not dealing with raiders or thieves. This is a threat unlike any we've faced before."

The air in the room felt heavy, like a storm brewing just beyond the horizon. Kiyoshi, standing near the back, leaned against the wall, his mind racing. His training with Ceng-tae had sharpened his skills, but this was something else entirely. The kind of challenge that could break a man. His materialization magic had grown stronger over time, yet...how would it fare against a dragon? Or worse—multiple dragons?

He could feel the eyes of some of the council members on him, curious, maybe even doubtful. He was still the newcomer in many of their eyes. A stranger. But Kiyoshi had proven himself time and time again—this would be no different. He clenched his fists, determination rising within him.

"We need to prepare everyone," Hokuto continued, his eyes sweeping the room. "Not just our warriors. Every able-bodied person in the village must be trained in defence. We will not be taken by surprise. We will stand as one. Ethera has seen us through worse. Together, we will weather this storm."

The conviction in Hokuto's voice stirred something in the gathered council; nods of agreement slowly replaced the murmuring of doubt. The village would have to rally, not as individuals but as one.

Then Rajieru, who had been listening silently, spoke up, his voice calm yet carrying an edge of urgency. "We don't have much time. A few days, at most. The first wave will be upon us soon."

The atmosphere shifted. All eyes turned to him, and the gravity of his words hung thick in the air. Rajieru's gift of precognition had never been wrong, and the council knew it.

Kiyoshi stepped forward, his voice strong, carrying the weight of his resolve. "I'll train a group of fighters—people who can handle close combat. We need a frontline, and I can help build that." His gaze shifted to where Celosia stood, a quiet pillar of calm in the storm. "Celosia can support us with her water magic, controlling the battlefield and helping keep our lines strong."

Celosia nodded, her expression as serene as ever, but Kiyoshi saw the flicker of determination behind her eyes.

"And Rajieru..." Kiyoshi continued, meeting his friend's gaze. "You'll be our eyes, guiding us through what's coming. We'll rely on your foresight to help us make the right moves."

Rajieru gave a single, firm nod. There was no hesitation in his eyes, only certainty.

Hokuto crossed his arms, his voice gruff but approving. "It's a solid plan, but we'll need more than just courage to get through this. Magic alone won't win us this fight. We need to strengthen our physical defences—barriers, traps, anything that can slow them down."

One of the elders spoke up, her voice cracking with age but sharp as steel. "And what of the villagers who cannot fight? The children, the elderly—what will become of them?"

Kiyoshi's gaze hardened. "They'll be protected. We'll fortify safe zones, areas where non-combatants can shelter. But we can't just rely on hiding—we need to go on the offensive if we want to survive this."

There was a murmur of agreement from the council. The resolve of the village was forming, coalescing into a plan of action.

Hokuto looked over the group once more, his jaw set. "Then it's decided. We prepare for war. Kiyoshi, Rajieru, and Celosia—you three will take the lead on training and defence. We'll work around the clock. No one rests until the village is ready."

Kiyoshi could feel the weight of the task ahead. He exchanged a look with Rajieru and Celosia—each of them knew what was at stake. Failure wasn't an option. The creatures of Ethera were coming, and they had only days to prepare for a battle that could change everything.

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The next few days were relentless. Kiyoshi worked from dawn until dusk, leading drills and sparring sessions. He trained the villagers in the basics of defence—how to hold a weapon, how to block, and how to use their environment to their advantage. Despite being younger than many of them, he commanded respect with his calm but firm demeanour. Ceng-tae, the village's strongest and most experienced fighter, had been absent since Celosia's wedding, leaving Kiyoshi to step up in his place. The villagers, while uncertain at first, began to rely on him more as they realized his skill and dedication.

Kiyoshi's materialization magic proved invaluable. He could create weapons on the fly, allowing the villagers to practice with real tools without needing to forge them by hand. Swords, shields, spears—whatever was needed, he provided. It made the training feel urgent and real, especially with the looming threat of the magical creatures approaching Ethera.

Rajieru, with his precognition, was a key part of the defence strategy. His ability to foresee where attacks might come from helps them position their defences strategically. Though the villagers were nervous, knowing the creatures of Ethera were coming, Kiyoshi's unshakable focus gave them hope. His leadership, combined with Rajieru's foresight, instilled a sense of calm and preparation. The villagers didn't just see him as a powerful magic user anymore—they began to trust him as a protector.

Celosia, meanwhile, honed her own abilities, practicing her water magic to its fullest extent. She created barriers and defensive walls of water, testing offensive techniques as well, like whips of water that could strike down enemies. Though her confidence was growing, the idea of causing harm still weighed on her. Yet, with each day, her control over her magic strengthened, and her resolve began to solidify. Kiyoshi, Rajieru, and Celosia trained alongside the villagers, pushing themselves just as hard, knowing that they, too, would face the creatures when the time came.

Late one afternoon, as the training wound down, Kiyoshi caught sight of Celosia and Rajieru sparring together. Rajieru was quick, using his precognition to dodge her attacks, but Celosia was determined, her water magic lashing out like waves crashing against a cliff. Her magic wasn't just defensive anymore; it had grown sharper, more assertive. She was no longer holding back.

Kiyoshi smiled faintly as he watched them, but a part of him remained restless. Could the training they'd done really prepare them for what was to come? They had made progress, yes, but these creatures—dragons and who knew what else—were not ordinary foes. His thoughts flickered to Ceng-tae. Where is he?

Kiyoshi had always leaned on his instincts, and now those instincts told him the village wasn't ready. But with Ceng-tae gone, he couldn't shake the feeling that it would fall to him, Rajieru, and Celosia to stand on the front lines. The pressure weighed on him, but he wouldn't let it show. Not in front of the others.

Rajieru broke away from his spar with Celosia and walked over, breathing heavily. "They're improving," he said, glancing back at the villagers, many of whom were still practicing. "But they're scared. You can see it in their eyes."

Kiyoshi nodded, his gaze distant. "They have a right to be. These creatures—Faelinor's never seen anything like them. But we have to make sure they're ready." He clenched his fist, his resolve hardening. "We have to be ready."

Celosia joined them, wiping sweat from her brow, her normally calm demeanour replaced with a look of determination. "We will be." She spoke with quiet confidence, though a flicker of doubt crossed her face. "I just wish we had more time."

"We'll make the most of the time we have," Kiyoshi replied, his voice steady. "Ceng-tae may not be here, but we can still do this. We have to."

As they watched the sun sink below the horizon, casting long shadows across the training grounds, the three of them stood together in silence.

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As the sun dipped below the horizon, the first sign of the creatures appeared. A distant rumble echoed through the valley, followed by a chilling howl that made the hair on the back of Kiyoshi's neck stand on end.

"They're coming," Rajieru muttered, a grin creeping onto his face. "Right on time."

Kiyoshi clenched his fists, his heart pounding with anticipation. This was it—the moment they had been preparing for.

Celosia moved beside him, her water magic swirling gently around her hands. "Are we ready for this?" she asked, her voice barely betraying a tremor of uncertainty.

Kiyoshi turned to her, his expression resolute. "We'll be ready," he said, his voice steady. "Because we have to be."

In the distance, the first of the creatures emerged—large, shadowy figures advancing toward the village. Their glowing eyes pierced the darkness, and with each step, their growls grew louder, more menacing.

The battle for the village had begun.

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