The kingdom is shrouded in darkness.
The sun had barely set, yet the sky had turned ashen, swirling with dark clouds that seemed to stretch forever, choking the light. I stood on the balcony of our fortress, the chill of the evening wind biting at my skin as I stared at the looming horizon. Below, the air buzzed with tension, the sound of war drums rising from the heart of the kingdom. Ryker had gathered his forces. He knew this day was coming, but no one was ready for what was about to unfold.
I felt his presence before I saw him, the thrum of his energy like a pulse against my own. Ryker’s footsteps were soft but sure, the weight of the battle ahead pressing on his shoulders.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice rough, as he stopped beside me. His gaze drifted over the horizon, his face drawn
