The sun was finally setting, casting a dull crimson hue over the ruins of the once-mighty Darkovia Empire. It felt symbolic—an end to the most harrowing day of my life. So much had unraveled in a single breath of time. Who would've thought that the great empire, feared and revered across the lands, would be brought to its knees like this?
I stepped out of the throne room reluctantly, only because Riona insisted I see to the restoration efforts. The destruction outside, while staggering, was nothing compared to the chaos that had unfolded within the palace moments ago. Still, the sight that met me was no less harrowing.
Bodies—both soldier and civilian—littered the broken streets. Buildings smoldered. Cries of the wounded echoed in the air like a ghostly chorus. And yet... somehow, the situation was stabilizing. The worst of the storm had passed, even if it had left us drowning in its wake.
