In a lone cozy house, outside Central City, Meridian Keystone. Zeriel.

"What do you think?" The pretty fox-girl asked.

Zeriel observed the open receiver windows some more and eventually made up her mind.

"Yes, the sanctum is acting odd."

"Maybe the Void King has finally returned?" Loyd guessed.

Ian shook his head, "He's been gone for two years. He won't return till he controls the whole Wild Continent."

What they were doing right now was somewhat illegal. Without permission, one could not capture images or videos of people. The Sanctum region was especially heavily guarded, and the recorders never worked when aimed at it. Just like how it never worked for recording anything bad.

But they had found a solution to that. If it was from far away and the sanctum was not the target of a recorder, but instead a mirror reflecting the sanctum region, it worked.

It was just a way to pass the time and find gossip, to be honest. Miura's father worked in a runic motor workshop, and she was one of those few in their academy Zeriel would call a genius. She always had all the answers regarding runic technology.

Drona was with them as well. Zer looked towards the brooding guy. He noticed her and said,

"Yes, Something is off. The half day of classes was certainly not planned. The waygates are closed. Too many signs to ignore."

His scholarly magelike words never failed to amuse Zer, but today the mood in their small hideout was not of fun. Two more of their classmates were there. Ian and Loyd. The only other two in the class whose interests matched theirs. Obsessing about warriors of the past, great wars of history, discussing the latest runic tools and machines, watching adventurer videos, finding political gossip, and publishing articles on their own channel.

The Lords of Iglacious, they had named themselves. Iglacious was the first open city in the world, some 200 years ago. A transcendent lord ruling there had declared independence and would invite people from all five kingdoms to gather and share knowledge of the world.

As it happens, that city used to be on the very island they were standing on. The king of Ashenvale had, of course, punished the lord and retaken the city. But the name of the transcendent who sacrificed himself to save the scholars was forever immortalized.

Just as they all were watching the increased activity in the sanctum with keen interest, all of their receivers suddenly activated on their own. It startled Zer for a moment, but then she saw the face of their lord keeper, and she relaxed.

For a moment, she thought the thousand-eyed monster, the protector of runic-recorder laws, had found them afterall. If it caught them here, in her parents' basement, she would have been killed twice. Once by the monster and again by her mother.

"People of Sanctuary, I am your keeper." Samuel Stormcaller addressed them.

They all straightened up and paid full attention.

"This unscheduled announcement is regarding the unrest we all have felt in the city since this morning, and also a call to arms. Today, a miracle happened.

Long ago, Damian, I, and many others entered a dungeon and were trapped in there for ten years. Along with us, most of the Highsword members were present as well. The last six of them, who endured and fought alongside us, we thought had been lost. But today, they have returned."

Zeriel's eyes widened. Highswords are back? After 20 years? Where were they all this time? And what does he mean by call to arms?

Lord Keeper continued, "Normally, this would have been a joyous occasion. But because our friends had been absent from the mainland for so long, the blessings of their patron gods are gone."

Blessings? Can they be taken away as well?

"Together with our Highsword friends, we asked the gods to renew their faith, but the gods refused. They say it can't happen. And not just that: because they have lost their blessings, they don't deserve to live either. I tried, we all did, to convince the gods, but they would not have it.

Instead, we have become targets as well. Because we have been inside the dungeon as well, the gods' people wish to kill us all. They asked for our newly discovered land, which the exploration crew has gone through hell to win, and I told them to take it all if it buys us peace for my people and me. But they are dead set on killing us and ransacking Sanctuary. Me, Grace, Damian, Lucian, all of us, who entered that dungeon all those years ago. And all those related to us, even our children.

The truth is, the Empire and Faerunia, backed by Sun God and Sea God, want us gone. They don't want advanced runic tools or to reach faraway lands. They don't want the mainland to look beyond its own internal disputes. They want us to fight. They want us poor and hungry. They want to divide us using religion, race, power hierarchy, and all that crap! They want us to be uneducated. They want us weak.

Damian and Sir Landbreaker are not with us. I don't know if they will return before the enemy comes, but Sanctuary will not just wait around for others to save us."

The face of their keeper disappeared, and the footage of armies marching replaced it. Empire and Faerunians. The voice of the keeper continued speaking as they watched the armies,

"Sanctuary, as of now, is in a state of emergency. Women, children, and the elderly of Sanctuary have three places to go for shelter if they wish. The land where new Malveria has been established, Queen Lazarin has reassured us she will take care of our people.

The second is Eldoris, the goddess Astraea has abandoned us. Sanctuary will fight alone, but Eldoris will give shelter to civilians. The last one is either to go to our new city on the wild continent, Farpoint, or to enter a good, resourceful dungeon and remain there. People won't be able to reach you, and you can leave when you feel like it."

The keeper reappeared on the screen.

"But to all able-bodied men who have received the combat training or not. I, your keeper, call you to arms for war. The emperor and sea snake are coming, and we, all heads of the sanctum, along with our Highsword friends, will be ready to face them in battle. I promise you, as long as I live, the great barrier of the city will not fail, and no one will enter the land of Sanctuary!

Gods are against us. I don't think we can face them directly if they decide to come, but the people who are using this excuse of judgment to rob us of our hard-earned lives, the empire, and Faerunians, will pay a heavy price! It will not be an easy battle. All those who wish to leave Sanctuary are allowed to do so. We will not ask for your blood if you do not believe in our nation and its purpose!

Sanctuary protects innocents!

All those who are willing to fight can see the details on the official Sanctum channel. We will also try to keep everyone updated with live footage of everything. Now the channel head, reporter Ely, will take over."