Dawn broke over Aetheris with a stark and solemn beauty. The once serene city was now a fortress braced for war. The rising sun cast long shadows over the fortified walls and the assembled armies. The air was filled with a palpable tension, a mixture of anticipation and dread as the defenders prepared for the oncoming storm.
Alaric stood at the front of the battlements, his eyes scanning the horizon. The city was a hive of activity, with soldiers taking their positions and civilians finding safety within the fortified walls. The clang of armor and the murmur of strategic conversations created a backdrop of organized chaos.
"Look," Thalia said, pointing toward the horizon. "They're advancing."
Through the haze of early morning, the dark forms of the enemy's forces could be seen moving steadily towards the city. The once distant threat was now a looming reality, a vast and menacing army that seemed to stretch endlessly across the landscape.
