Night lay ink-dark over Alubarna, but darker still were the clouds hanging over this ancient city of a thousand years.
In the secret chamber, Vivi was exhausted but could not sleep. The wound on her back burned, and her mind was a tangled mess. Her father was imprisoned, her country stood on the brink of disaster, and there seemed to be nowhere she could present the evidence she had brought back. The helplessness nearly swallowed her whole. But she forced herself to stay calm, recalling everything that had happened in Rainbase over and over, recalling Zhou Yu's instructions, recalling the escort that Sand Fox and the Wind Traveler members had provided at the cost of their lives.
Sand Fox stood like a statue beside the chamber's only air vent, his eyes closed as he regulated his breathing, his ears constantly catching even the faintest sounds outside. The two remaining Wind Traveler members also took turns resting, maintaining a minimal watch.
Time passed in oppressive silence. After an unknown stretch-perhaps two hours, perhaps longer-a rhythmic series of knocks finally came from beyond the chamber's heavy stone slab: three long, two short. It was the signal Pell had agreed upon before leaving.
Sand Fox's eyes snapped open. He signaled Vivi and the others to stay silent, then slipped soundlessly to the door, one hand on the weapon at his waist as he listened.
Pell's deliberately lowered voice came from outside, carrying a hint of urgency. "It's me, Pell. Open up. There's an emergency!"
Sand Fox did not open the door immediately. Instead, he looked through an extremely well-concealed peephole. It was indeed Pell, alone, but his expression was grave, his breathing slightly hurried, and there even seemed to be a trace of... blood about him?
"Lord Pell, what's happening outside?" Sand Fox