Chapter 23
The night before battle, Emberfield glowed with firelight. People sang songs long banned by the Pale Crest. Children painted memory runes on the armor of rebels.
Rynn sat by the flames, sharing a quiet drink with Kael, whispering stories of their dead comrades. Lucien carved names onto his sword's hilt—names of those the throne had tried to erase.
Seraphina sat alone, writing a letter to Evelyn.
"If I don't return, let the winds carry this memory to you. I never forgot your laugh. Or the way you never feared the dark."
As dawn approached, no one slept.
Because they all knew—tomorrow, they'd burn their story into history.