The air in the East Wing was thick with tension, every member of the group on edge as they anticipated the attack. Chase stood at the front, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows ahead. Isabelle was beside him, her all-black attire blending into the darkness, her presence both commanding and calm. The rest of the group—mages, warriors, and a lone healer—formed a semi-circle behind them, each prepared to follow Chase's and Isabelle's lead.
They had spent the last few hours devising a strategy, and now it was time to see if their plan would work.
"We can't afford to be reckless," Chase had said, pacing as he explained their tactic. "We know the first wave will test us, but they're not sending their strongest yet. That's when we make our move—take out as many as we can, quickly and efficiently, and prepare for the next."
