Shadow Heir
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The battlefield was a canvas of ash and blood, the bitter scent of smoke hanging heavy in the air. Dawn had long passed, but the sun struggled to pierce the thick veil of grey clouds that stretched over the ridge. Eolan pressed his back against the cold stone wall of a ruined watchtower, steadying his breathing as the restless shadow coiled at his feet, a living darkness that pulsed with barely restrained power.
Around him, the camp stirred with uneasy energy. Soldiers moved with hurried purpose, tending to the wounded and preparing for the inevitable next assault. Yet even in the chaos, a quiet moment lingered—a fragile breath between storms.