Kora’s POV
By dawn, the air itself seemed to shiver with tension. Every gust of wind carried whispers of what was coming. The Vale—scarred, burned, but still standing—waited.
I stood on a ridge overlooking what used to be the eastern meadow. It was nothing but ash now, the grass gone, replaced by uneven earth and the faint shimmer of magic residue. Edward stood beside me, silent, his expression unreadable.
“They’ll be here by nightfall,” Seraphine said behind us, her voice sharp as steel. “The scouts say their banners stretch across the horizon. Five divisions, led by Council Enforcers.”
“Five?” I turned toward her. “We can’t fight that many.”
“We won’t fight all of them,” she replied. “We only need to destroy their heart—their lead commander. If we cut him down, the rest will scatter
