As the surviving members of the resistance gathered in the shadow of the crumbling fortress, the globe appeared to hold its breath. Kael's gaze swept across the horizon as his thoughts raced through several ways to deal with the impending danger. As though the universe itself had foreseen the upcoming conflict, the air was charged with tension and unsaid terror.
Zara was standing next to him, a comforting yet demanding presence. Her steadfast resolve stoked a fire inside him, but the storm building in her eyes served as a reminder that their relationship was as much about a common goal as it was about unsaid conflicts. The burden of their decisions, sacrifices, and the future they aimed to reconstruct rested between them.
Zara's voice was a mix of resolution and panic as she stated, "We're running out of time." By daybreak, the Shadow Warden's army will arrive. There won't be another chance if we don't take action right away.
With his palm on his blade's hilt, Kael nodded. The subtle
