Aether briskly walked into the castle, his eyes darting around as he searched desperately for any sign of life. But no matter where he looked or how loudly he called out, the vast halls echoed back only silence.
"Where did they go? Thalia? Emberlyn?!" Aether's voice boomed through the empty corridors, carrying a mix of frustration and rising panic.
Yet, there was no answer.
The Empire lay in ruins, its people wounded and scattered, and he couldn't wrap his head around what had caused this catastrophe.
His footsteps quickened as he made his way toward the throne room... When he reached it, his breath hitched at the sight before him. The space was completely destroyed—walls crumbled, tapestries torn, and the air thick with the remnants of battle.
