Lucien looked at Diana, his words interrupted by the howling alarm.
A pang of guilt shot through him as he saw hope fading from his niece's eyes.
"Come with me," he said impulsively, taking Diana's hand. "I'll take you to the wall."
Diana blinked in surprise but didn't protest as Lucien quickly guided her through the corridors of the central building towards the wall.
The sound of the alarm intensified as they approached the wall, reverberating in their chests. Lucien led her to a robust dark wood door, his office.
"Wait for me here," he said, opening the door and gesturing for her to enter. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
Without waiting for a response, Lucien closed the door and hurried towards the wall.
Diana was left alone in the office, surrounded by shelves full of books and detailed maps of the city and its defenses.
Meanwhile, Lucien quickly climbed the remaining stairs leading to the top of the wall.
The organized chaos of the parapet greeted him: soldiers running to their posts, summons firing magic or launching themselves against the monsters, the roar of the Locus pressing against the barrier.
"Report," Lucien demanded from the first officer he saw.
"Sir," the officer responded, his voice tense but controlled. "The alarm is like the last few days. We expect the first breaches at any moment."
Lucien nodded, his eyes scanning the horizon. As if his thoughts were a signal, small flashes began to appear in the barrier.
The soldiers on duty responded with speed and efficiency, their summons launching coordinated attacks that eliminated the few Locus that managed to get through.
"Good," Lucien murmured. "Maintain formation. We know how this goes."
The minutes passed, and as Lucien knew would happen, the alarms increased in intensity. With them, the gaps in the barrier became more frequent and larger. The soldiers redoubled their efforts, their movements precise and well-rehearsed.
Lucien observed carefully, noting the subtle changes in the defense. There were more women than before, almost equaling the number of men.
A swift approached flying, bringing a small message in its talons. Lucien took it, quickly reading the report from another section of the wall.
Everything seemed to be under control, for now.
Finally, the last wave of Locus was exterminated.
A clamor of victory rose among the soldiers, their shouts of joy mixing with the howl of the alarms that were beginning to fade. The summons joined in the celebration, their various cries and calls adding to the cacophony.
Lucien allowed himself a moment of relief before turning to Diana. His niece was standing still, her face a mask of amazement and... was that resolve?
Lucien observed Diana's reaction, remembering the first time he himself had witnessed this view.
"Diana," Lucien began, his voice grave. His frog hopped back onto his shoulder, its large eyes fixed on Diana. "You shouldn't be here. It's dangerous."
"There are more women than before," Diana commented.
Lucien nodded. "The situation requires it. We need all the soldiers we can get."
Diana nodded, absorbing all the information. She noticed that many soldiers had rabbits as summons. "Are they all level 3?"
Lucien shook his head. "No. Most are level 4. Elio wanted to be selective, but with the situation as it is, we've had to be more permissive. Now, anyone who accepts the 15 years of service can get the rabbit but must rise to level 4. To be able to use their area magic with the combo."
"Uncle Lucien," Diana responded, her voice surprisingly firm. "I had never seen anything like this. The wall, the soldiers, the summons... It's incredible."
Lucien stared at her, recognizing the spark in her eyes. It was the same he had seen in Selene's eyes so many years ago, when she defied expectations and became one of the most powerful summoners.
"Diana," Lucien said, carefully choosing his words. "What you've seen here today... This is what we do every day. We risk ourselves, we fight, we defend the city with our lives. It's not a game, it's not an exciting adventure. It's hard, dangerous, and often terrifying."
Diana nodded, her expression serious.
"I understand, uncle. And that's why I want to be part of this. I want to be a summoner, I want to defend the city like you do. Please."
"Diana," he finally said, "being a summoner is not just about power or glory. It's about responsibility, sacrifice. Would you be willing to risk your life every day? To face these monsters, knowing that a single mistake could mean your death or that of your comrades?"
Diana looked once more towards the wall, towards the soldiers still celebrating their victory, towards the endless sea of Locus that continued to press against the restored barrier.
Then she looked back at her uncle, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.
"Yes," she responded without a trace of doubt in her voice. "I'm willing."
Lucien looked at her silently for a long moment, evaluating the sincerity of her words. His frog seemed to study Diana as well, its head tilted slightly as if in consideration.
Finally, Lucien nodded slowly.