The city of Veridiana lay still, empty streets mirroring the somber mood that filled the kingdom. But in front of the King's palace, the silence was matched by the largest gathering Veridiana had ever seen—millions of citizens stood together, waiting with a quiet intensity.
Despite the immense crowd, the square was silent, reverent. Families of fallen soldiers were assembled closest to the stage, somber expressions etched into their faces. Beside them, the surviving soldiers of the Veridiana-Nessarose War stood in flawless formation, wearing meticulously pressed uniforms. Their eyes shimmered, but not a tear was shed as a mark of respect for their fallen comrades.
General Roland, standing tall among the ranks, held a resolute salute, honoring the tradition of Veridiana's military by offering this unbroken tribute to the fallen.
