The final three hours passed in careful silence.
No new pressure struck the barrier. No spears of darkness fell from the clouds. The scrying basin showed only the same distant black mass hanging on the eastern horizon, farther back than it had been in days. Soldiers on the walls reported the quietest watch they had seen since the Realm of Darkness first appeared.
Inside the chamber the golden light around Alicia never flickered. The ritual continued its slow, steady work. Ninety-something days still remained, but the first major threshold had been crossed and the barrier held stronger for it.
Sekai sat with his back to the wall and watched the timer count down. Two hours. One hour. Thirty minutes. Fifteen.
At the five-minute mark Fury opened her eyes and looked at him.
"You are waiting for the reset," she said.
"Yes."
"And then we ride for Port Meridian."
"Yes."
She was quiet for a moment. "The King of Darkness is forcing you to spend every new set of days the moment you receive them. That is not an accident."
Sekai did not disagree. He simply kept his eyes on the numbers as they fell.
Three minutes.
Two.
One.
The final seconds slipped away.
The soft chime sounded in his mind again. Light bloomed across his vision in the familiar pattern of fireworks. The message appeared exactly as it had before.
Stage Clear.
The timer reset.
Three new days settled into place.
Sekai let out a long breath and stood. The others were already watching him.
Prince Will spoke first. "It reset again."
"It did," Sekai answered. "We leave for Port Meridian within the hour."
Leafa nodded once and began checking her gear. Niña groaned but pushed herself to her feet without real complaint. Fury rose smoothly, already calculating distances and routes in her head.
Clau stepped forward. "Yelda and I will remain here with the prince. The barrier still needs constant watch."
Sekai met her eyes for a moment. "Keep her safe."
"We will."
They left the underground chamber while the new three days still felt fresh. Fresh horses waited in the courtyard. A small escort of League riders had already been prepared against the possibility of a reset. Maps of the western trade roads were passed from hand to hand.
The ride out through the western gate was quiet. Civilians paused to watch them pass. Some called out thanks. Most simply looked relieved that the Hero of Salvation was moving again.
Once the capital fell behind them, Sekai began the same careful pattern he had used on the road to Highmere. Short pauses to clear the path. Adjustments to their formation for better speed. Small problems removed before the others ever saw them. The new timer gave them room to work, and he intended to use every hour of it.
By nightfall the capital was far behind and the western plains stretched open under a clear sky. Port Meridian still lay two hard days of normal travel ahead. With the pause button they would reach it sooner.
Fury rode beside him for a long stretch after dark.
"He will not make this one simple," she said. "Three fronts in such a short time means he is changing the shape of the war."
Sekai kept his eyes on the dark road ahead. "Then we change it back, one front at a time."
She gave a small nod and said nothing more.
Behind them the capital still stood under its golden barrier. Alicia's prayer continued without pause. Ahead of them the coastal city of Port Meridian waited with its own growing pocket of darkness.
Three new days.
Sekai closed his hand around the controller and kept riding.
The King of Darkness had opened another door.
They would close it before the next one could open.