The fortress seemed to hold its breath in the quiet moments before dawn. The night had been long, filled with the clatter of preparations and the murmur of worried voices. Elara had barely slept, her mind consumed with the impending threat and the tasks that lay ahead. As she stood by her window, the faint light of morning began to creep across the horizon, casting a gentle glow over the fortress walls.
The sound of distant horns announced the beginning of a new day. Elara took a deep breath, steeling herself for the challenges that awaited. The security measures they had implemented over the past few days had transformed the fortress into a fortress of vigilance and resolve. The additional patrols, the reinforced defenses, and the heightened surveillance were all designed to prepare them for the worst.
