The Mage left the lookout window and moved closer to the warm fireplace.
He complained to the companion taking over his watch. "Damn weather... It's this cold in September? I hear the kingdom plans to build a city here. I can't imagine who'd come live in a godforsaken place like this..."
The complaint drew laughter from many in Breeze City, though some Mages frowned.
Huddling by a fireplace under a Carpet was hardly becoming of a Mage. And the Mage Tower hadn't had a Temperature Control Spell back then? They would have to look into that when they got back...
The Mage who had taken his place at the lookout window frowned. He peered through the reflection of his own face into the darkness outside. Across the settlement, firelights were going out one by one.
"Elk?"
His companion called from behind him, but Elk kept staring at a campfire just ahead of the advancing darkness. Several figures sat around it. They seemed to notice something wrong in the distance and stood to look. The next moment, darkness swallowed them and the fire. In that instant, the Mage glimpsed countless scurrying shadows.
"Rat Tide! The Rat Tide is coming!"
The Mage's scream sent chills through countless spectators. He knocked over tables and chairs as he rushed out of the lookout room.
Clang—clang—clang—
An urgent bell rang out above the Mage Tower. A Light Spell cut through the night, suddenly illuminating the sky around it.
Countless Ratfolk surged toward the Mage Tower like a churning tide. Screams broke out across the theater, and panic spread. One Noble even tried to flee, threatening to throw everyone into greater chaos, before a Clarity Spell restored his composure.
Olmedo turned to his father. "Father... do you remember three days ago?"
Augusta kept watching the Rat