"No, absolutely not!" Yuran's voice rose the moment he heard about Ardiel's plan to seal the gate.
"Do you even understand how dangerous it is out there? White Forest is practically an Orc city now. How do you expect to make it to their gate?" Yuran pressed, his expression tense.
He wasn't wrong. White Forest had transformed into a fortress.
The Orcs had settled in so deeply that not even the best scouts could penetrate far enough to gauge the full extent of their strength.
"I know the risks," Ardiel responded, his tone calm but resolute.
"But if we do nothing, it'll only get worse. Soon, they'll overrun us, and we'll have nowhere left to hide."
The weight in Ardiel's voice startled Yuran. It wasn't the same youthful tone he was used to—it was firm, grounded, almost harsh.
"So, Father approved this? Even the Elders?" Yuran asked, referring to Alentor and Eleonore.
