King Gulben's throne room grew silent as the scouts concluded their reports. The gravity of the situation was palpable from the beginning, now its become cleared. His usually composed demeanor was replaced with a look of deep concern and anxiety. The magnitude of the threat had become abundantly clear, and swift action was required.
"We have no time to waste," King Gulben said. "We must be prepared more defense."
He summoned his most trusted generals and the most powerful mages of the Elven kingdom, including Saeldir. They gathered in the great hall, the weight of their king's words pressing upon them.
"General Thalion, organize our defenses. Fortify our borders and prepare our warriors for battle," King Gulben commanded.
General Thalion, a seasoned Elf warrior with a stern countenance, nodded solemnly. "As you command, Your Majesty. We will mobilize immediately."
Turning to the mage under Saeldir, Luthien, King Gulben continued, "Luthien, gather your circle and begin preparations for protective enchantments. We will need every advantage we can muster."
Luthien bowed deeply. "It will be done, Your Majesty."
With the orders given, the hall bustled with activity. Elven soldiers began to ready their weapons, and mages prepared their spells. The palace transformed into a hive of strategic planning and preparation.
King Gulben, however, knew that more was needed. The Forest Elves had pledged their support, and their assistance could tip the balance in their favor. He resolved to personally inform their king, Fairon, of the latest developments.
Without hesitation, King Gulben go to the teleportation device with Aurdis who had been there before.
The journey was swift. As he entered the verdant realm of the Forest Elves, Dawnwood, he was greeted by the sight of their majestic woodland kingdom.
The Forest Elves were known for their unparalleled connection to nature. So they already preparing for the impending doom. They too, definitely already see the signs.
King Gulben was led to King Fairon when he arrived without wasting anymore time. Even though the Elf who guard the teleportation was surprised seeing the king back in action.
Fairon waited him in a grand clearing surrounded by ancient trees that seemed to hum with Magic energy.
"Gulben," Fairon greeted him warmly but with a grave tone. "I think I already know why you came here. What news do you bring?"
King Gulben quickly relayed the scouts' findings and the horrors they had witnessed. He described the twisted creatures, the malevolent flora, and the dark symbols in the Gray Mountains. Fairon's expression grew more serious with each word.
"It is worse than we feared. We also seeing similar anomalies in the area close to this woods," Fairon said. "We must stand together. What is your plan?"
"First, we must gather in one place," king Gulben proposed.
King Fairon nodded without hesiation. And so, the alliance between their peoples were made. Now, it was more crucial than ever before.
"We will begin immediately. I will send our warriors and mages at your palace in a moment," said Fairon.
The atmosphere in the palace was tense as preparations for the impending battle continued. Erend, Billy, and Adrien knew they had a crucial task ahead—one that required them to leave the Elven realm temporarily and return to their own world.
They found Aurdis in the garden, the same serene spot where Erend and she had shared their moments of comfort. Aurdis looked up as they approached, sensing the urgency in their steps.
"Aurdis, we need to go back to our world for now. We have to meet our families and tell them about what's coming. They need to be prepared," Erend said.
Aurdis' eyes widened with concern. She knew how much their families meant to them, and the thought of them being unprepared for the impending danger was unbearable.
"I understand. But promise me you'll return as soon as you can. We need you here all here," Aurdis replied.
"We will," Billy assured her. "We just need to make sure our loved ones are safe."
"We'll be waiting for your return. Stay safe."
Then, the trio made their way to the grand hall where King Gulben awaited them. The Elven king had been informed of their decision and understood the importance of their action to go back to their world.
King Gulben raised his hands, and a swirling vortex of light and energy began to form in the center of the hall. The portal casting an ethereal glow over the room.
"Step through when you're ready," King Gulben said.
Erend, Billy, and Adrien exchanged a final glance.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Erend said, his voice filled with gratitude.
With that, they stepped into the portal. The world around them shifted and blurred, a dizzying sensation that lasted only a moment.
When the light faded, they found themselves standing in the familiar surroundings of the military base.
They wasted no time. The urgency of their task propelled them forward.
Erend hurried through the streets. Aftere several minutes they arrived at their modest home and burst through the door.
"Arty! Mom!" he called out, his voice echoing through the house.
His little sister, Arty, came running from her room, her eyes wide with surprise. Their mother appeared from the kitchen, a look of concern on her face.
"Erend? What's wrong?" his mother asked, sensing the gravity of the situation.
"We need to talk. There's something important you both need to know," Erend began.
He guided them to the living room, where they sat down together. Erend could see the fear and uncertainty in their eyes, but he knew he had to be strong for them.
"We're facing a great danger," he began, explaining the situation as best he could. "There's a calamity coming, something that threatens our world and the Aurdis' world. I need to go there and stop it before its arrived at our world."
Arty's eyes wide with worry. "What can we do?"
Erend placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll get through this together. Don't worry. I'll do everything I can to protect you both."
The burden is getting heavier every passing moment for Erend. But seeing the faces of his mother and little sister give him power. He can't let anything happen to them. Even if he is not strong enough, he will find a way to be strong enough.