The warrior wore his light armor of reinforced leather, a dark cloak draped over his broad shoulders. Master Thorne waited near the door, his pipe extinguished in one hand and a weary expression on his wrinkled face.

"Father?" Lukas called immediately, stopping beside the table.

"Where are you going?"

Clavor turned around, his steady eyes meeting his son’s. For a brief moment, he seemed surprised by how quickly Lukas had come downstairs.

"I’m going with Master Thorne to Forest Village. We need to assess the damage from last night and reinforce the defenses before the rats advance any farther. Count Hark won’t arrive for another two or three days. We can’t just sit around and wait."

Lukas felt his chest tighten. The image of the forest seen through the window still burned in his mind, every detail vivid, every tiny movement clear. He didn’t want to be left behind.

"I want to come too."

Clavor crossed his arms, the scar on his cheek standing out beneath the morning light streaming through the windows. He opened his mouth, clearly ready to refuse, but stopped when he saw the determination on his son’s face, his chin raised, his violet eyes, now with that subtle golden ring, shining with resolve.

The warrior let out a long sigh, running a hand through his short hair.

"Very well. Eat your breakfast first. Then you may come. Don’t leave without Tilbo and Prata. And obey my orders without question."

Lukas smiled, relief and excitement mixing together.

"Yes, sir!"

Judite, who was already sitting at the table swinging her legs, looked up with sparkling eyes.

"Can I come too, Father? Please!"

Aurora, who was placing a tray of warm bread on the table, answered before Clavor could speak.

"Absolutely not, young lady. I’ll need your help here at the manor. We have to organize the supplies that arrived from the villagers, prepare bandages, and help the servants reinforce the walls. This isn’t the time for games."

Judite puffed out her cheeks dramatically, crossed her arms, and slumped into her chair.

"But I want to see the giant rats! Lukas always gets to do all the fun things..."

"Judite," Aurora said with motherly firmness, though a gentle smile appeared on her lips.

"Helping here is important too. And it’s brave. Now eat."

The little girl grumbled under her breath but didn’t argue any further, picking up a slice of bread with cheese.

Clavor exchanged a quick glance with Aurora, a mixture of concern and pride, before nodding to Thorne.

"Let’s go. We’ll meet you at the village, Lukas."

The father and the mage left, the sound of their boots echoing down the hallway. Lukas sat at the table, his stomach growling despite his anxiety.

Breakfast was delicious. Aurora served him a generous bowl of hot stew filled with tender carrots, golden potatoes, and juicy pieces of venison seasoned with rosemary. Beside it were two fluffy scrambled eggs sprinkled with fresh chives, several slices of crispy bread still warm from the oven, melted butter, and a piece of aged yellow cheese. There was also sweet herbal tea with honey and a glass of fresh milk.

As he ate, Lukas told Judite and Aurora about the training he planned to do later, carefully avoiding any mention of his new ability.

Judite laughed at his exaggerated stories about Tilbo knocking down imaginary trees, while Aurora watched her two children fondly, though faint lines of worry creased her forehead.

After finishing breakfast, Lukas wiped his mouth with a linen napkin. Aurora stepped closer to collect the bowls and suddenly stopped.

Her violet eyes, the same ones Lukas had inherited, fixed on his face with intense attention. She tilted her head slightly and frowned.

"Lukas... what happened to your eyes?"

He blinked, feeling his heart skip a beat. He tried to keep his voice casual.

"My eyes? They’re normal, Mother. Why?"

Aurora stepped closer, gently holding his chin and turning his face toward the light streaming through the window.

She stayed like that for several seconds, studying his violet irises. The subtle golden ring glimmered faintly whenever the light struck it at just the right angle.

She could tell something was different, but she couldn’t quite identify what it was, as if a new layer had settled over their original color.

"There’s something... different. I can’t explain it. They seem more alive, brighter. Did you have a fever? Or did something happen last night?"

Lukas shook his head, forcing an innocent smile.

"No, Mother. I’m fine. Maybe it’s just the morning light."

Aurora stared at him for a few more moments, clearly unsatisfied with the answer, but eventually sighed and released his chin. She gently stroked his white hair.

"Be very careful at the village, understood? Don’t wander away from your father. And take Tilbo and Prata with you. They’re your strength."

"I will. I promise."

She hugged him briefly, holding him against her chest as if she wanted to protect him from the entire world. Lukas returned the embrace, breathing in the familiar scent of lavender and fresh bread clinging to her clothes.

He quickly went upstairs to his room. Tilbo was already awake, her antennae twitching curiously. Prata descended gracefully from the ceiling on a silvery thread. Astra chirped excitedly from her box the moment she saw him.

"Come on, everyone. Today we’re going to help at the village."

The four of them headed downstairs together. Tilbo walked beside Lukas with heavy yet controlled steps. Prata traveled along the walls above them, and Astra settled onto his shoulder, her talons resting lightly against his tunic.

The group set out toward Forest Village, the farthest settlement from the Dmond Manor.

The path through the forest was familiar, but with Lukas’s new vision, everything felt renewed.

Even while walking quickly, he caught incredible details. The trembling of leaves in the wind, a distant squirrel leaping between branches, the damp glow of mushrooms growing on the forest floor. The excitement still bubbled inside him, but he kept his focus.

Along the way, they encountered several villagers carrying their belongings in makeshift carts or on their backs. Entire families, frightened children, exhausted elders, and women carrying baskets were relocating to villages closer to the Dmond Manor. Clavor had ordered a preventive evacuation.

A middle-aged man waved at Lukas.

"Lord Lukas! Thank the heavens you’re taking action. Those rats... they’re getting bigger every night."

Lukas waved back, his chest tightening.

After more than an hour and a half of brisk walking, they finally arrived at Forest Village.

The place was completely deserted. The wooden houses looked abandoned, their half-open doors swaying in the wind. The silence was oppressive. There was no birdsong, no barking dogs, only the whisper of the wind slipping through the cracks.

Lukas found Clavor, Master Thorne, and about eight adult men, sturdy farmers and local guards, gathered in the central square near a well.

He hurried over, with Tilbo and Prata close behind.

"Father! What happened here?"

Clavor turned around, his face serious. He placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.

"The rats attacked during the night. Every crop was devoured, wheat, vegetables, even the roots. Look over there."

He pointed toward the fields surrounding the village. What had once been neat rows was now overturned earth and shattered stalks. Claw marks and enormous tiny footprints covered the ground.

"On top of that, they broke into every house. They ransacked pantries, cupboards, even tore apart mattresses looking for food. It wasn’t just hunger. It was organized."

Master Thorne released a puff of smoke from his freshly lit pipe.

"When the Rat King truly emerges, it accelerates the growth of the horde on a massive scale. But it needs resources, food, ambient mana, organic matter. Whatever they can’t find in the forest, they’ll begin looting. This village is already lost. Tonight, they’ll move on to the next one."

Clavor nodded, his deep voice carrying across the gathering.

"We need to hold them back for two more days. When Count Hark arrives with the knights and mages, we’ll head straight to the nest and hunt down the King."

"Thorne, set up containment seals and mana traps near the next village and the remaining fields. Use fire and poison wherever possible. We’ll delay the horde as much as we can."

The men murmured in agreement, some looking frightened, others determined.

Lukas observed everything with his new eyes, catching every expression and every detail of the teeth marks carved into the wooden doors. Tilbo clacked her mandibles in alertness. Prata spun fine strands between her legs, ready.

Lukas clenched his fist. He was no longer just an observer. With his enhanced vision, he could help detect threats from afar. Together with his companions, he would do his part.