After nightfall, great flakes of snow began drifting down outside, with no sign of stopping even now.
The Defense Association headquarters, which should have been bustling every day, had instead found a rare moment of quiet.
With a creak, the living room's wooden door was pushed open by someone's body. Shanna entered carrying two steaming cups of coffee, set one before the young man reading on the sofa, then took a small sip from the other and sat on the sofa to his right. After glancing at the enchanted clock on the wall, she said, "I didn't expect you really wouldn't go with them."
"I'm not their babysitter. It's already good enough that I'm staying here as their final safeguard." After marking his place, Albert closed the book and set it on the table. He picked up the steaming coffee, took a small sip, and frowned slightly. "People always need to rely on themselves. Besides, I don't think they'll be in any danger. Tonight is only a small trial. They'll face much greater challenges in the future."
"The final battle?"
Shanna often heard Albert mention it. Everything they had done was in preparation for the final battle against the Death Eaters.
"By then, we'll lose many companions too. But that is war. War is always far crueler than we imagine." Albert set down his coffee and turned to look at the blizzard that had suddenly risen outside the window. "Those wizards who underestimate it will all pay the price."
The subject was undoubtedly too heavy, pressing down on Shanna until she could barely breathe. She knew Albert did not like lying, but... this was war.
She wondered how many Association members truly understood war's cruelty.
"We're running out of money!" She took a deep breath, trying to change the subject.