That long stretch of quiet did not last.

Three months later the Emperor of Arcadia issued a war call and it caught nearly everyone off guard. Not because war had been unexpected but because of the direction of it.

This was not a call to defend Arcadian territory. The Emperor was planning to raise troops and march on the Demon lands directly, framing it as a punishment for everything the demons had done.

It landed suddenly and the weight of it shook people when it settled in. The call had already gone out for forces to gather and Ethan felt the foreboding settle into his chest the moment he heard about it and it sat there and did not move.

And as he had expected, it was not long before it became his problem directly.

A group of envoys from the imperial court of the Arcadia Empire arrived at Blank Manor and came with the formal bearing that imperial representatives always carried, composed and deliberate in the way they moved and presented themselves.

Ethan received them in the main hall and both sides exchanged greetings with the appropriate level of courtesy, nothing excessive and nothing cold.

The envoys bowed with proper respect toward the Marquis and Ethan returned it with the ease of someone who had dealt with enough court formality to know exactly how much weight to put into each gesture.

After the initial exchange one of the envoys stepped forward and asked Marquis Ethan to please review the Imperial Decree they had brought with them. Ethan took it from him with both hands, unrolled it and read through it at a steady pace.

It was a formal appointment laying out his post in clear and official terms. Beyond that the decree called for strong individuals to step forward and assist the army in the campaign against the Demon Empire and Ethan’s name was among those included in this mobilization without any ambiguity.

Regarding this Ethan had been mentally prepared for some time already. Several months ago he had already received some indication of where things were heading and the pieces had been arranging themselves into this shape for long enough that seeing it made official did not come as a shock so much as a confirmation.

He set the decree down and looked at it for a quiet moment.

"It seems that I have to go to the battlefield," he said.

The news did not remain inside the hall for long, and it quickly spread across the entire manor, reaching every corner where his family stayed.

The reactions came almost immediately, and just as expected, Sophia was the first to lose her temper.

"What the hell is this nonsense!" she snapped loudly while pacing back and forth, and her frustration was clear from the way her steps grew heavier each time. "That Emperor... I swear I will curse his entire generation!"

She crossed her arms tightly and glared in Ethan’s direction, clearly unable to accept the situation. "Sending you to war like this... do they think you are some disposable soldier?"

Ethan stood there calmly and watched her for a moment, and then a faint laugh escaped him without him trying to stop it.

Sophia instantly turned toward him and narrowed her eyes. "You’re laughing?" she said while pointing at him. "Are you serious right now?"

Ethan raised his hands slightly in a calming gesture while the faint smile remained on his face. "I am serious," he replied, and then added, "you just look like you are about to march to the capital yourself."

Sophia scoffed and looked away, but her anger had not disappeared. "Don’t tempt me," she muttered under her breath.

Diana stepped forward at that moment, and although she remained composed, there was clear concern in her eyes. "When do you have to leave?" she asked.

"Soon," Ethan replied, and his tone stayed steady. "The order is already active."

Lia stood quietly beside them, and her fingers clenched slightly as she spoke in a soft voice. "...Is it dangerous?"

Ethan looked at her for a brief moment, and then answered simply by knocking her head "It’s war."

"What do you expect?"

"A party!"

That was enough to make the room fall silent for a moment, and no one tried to speak right away.

Mira leaned lightly against a pillar while her brows furrowed slightly. "So they finally decided to move," she said, and although her voice was calm, her gaze remained sharp.

Rina walked closer and looked directly at Ethan. "You knew this would happen, didn’t you?" she asked.

Ethan nodded without hesitation. "Yeah, I had a feeling."

Selene then stepped forward, and her tone carried quiet seriousness. "Then you should also know this won’t be simple," she said.

"I know," Ethan replied, and there was no doubt in his voice.

Sophia stepped forward again and stood right in front of him, and although her anger had reduced slightly, her concern had grown stronger. "Knowing is one thing, and going is another," she said while looking straight at him. "...You have a family here."

Ethan’s expression softened slightly as he replied, "I know that too."

For a moment, Sophia just stared at him, and then she clicked her tongue and looked away again. "...Still annoying," she muttered quietly.

Ethan smiled faintly, and then he spoke in a calm voice, "I will be fine."

"That’s what every soldiers says," Diana added softly.

Ethan did not argue, and instead, he stepped closer and placed his hand gently on Sophia’s head.

She stiffened slightly but did not push him away immediately.

"Take care of things here," he said.

Sophia swatted his hand away after a moment, but her voice had softened. "I don’t need you to tell me that," she replied.

Ethan then looked around at all of them, and each of their expressions carried something different, as some showed worry while others showed quiet acceptance.

He took a slow breath, and a faint memory surfaced in his mind, as he remembered a similar call from decades ago which he had managed to avoid at that time, but things were different now and he knew he could not avoid it again.

"I’ll be back," he said simply.

No one gave a direct reply, but their silence held meaning.

Soon after that, preparations were made quietly, and there was no grand farewell, as everything remained simple and controlled.

Ethan took one last look at them, and then he turned and left the manor.

......

The journey ahead was steady, and as he moved farther away, the land gradually changed while the air grew colder and the terrain became rougher. Along the way, he began to see more signs of military movement, as soldiers marched in groups and supply caravans moved in long lines, all heading toward the same direction.

After some time, he finally reached the destination.

The Anning Pass of Scholdz Province stood ahead, and it was a narrow passage between massive rocky formations that acted as a gateway toward deeper regions. The place was already filled with activity, as tents stretched across the land and soldiers moved constantly, preparing for what was to come.

The atmosphere was heavy and tense, and the sounds of armor, weapons, and distant commands filled the air.

Ethan stopped for a brief moment at the entrance and observed everything quietly.

This was no longer the comfort of home, and this was no longer a place of peace.

This was war.

He exhaled slowly, and then stepped forward without hesitation, entering the camp.