The c***k of wood against wood echoed across the training grounds. Soldiers grunted as they sparred, their movements sharp and aggressive, driven by the urgency that had consumed Verauno in the past few days.
The rebellion wasn’t just a threat anymore—it was a fire raging through the kingdom, devouring everything in its path. And we were running out of time to extinguish it.
I stood at the edge of the grounds, my arms crossed as I watched the scene unfold. The air was thick with tension, every movement charged with the weight of what was coming.
These men and women weren’t just training—they were preparing to lay down their lives for a kingdom that might not survive.
Asher’s voice cut through the noise, steady and commanding. “Hold your stances! You won’t win a fight if your footing g
