Thirty years. Three decades of bloodshed. Thirty cycles of seasons stained crimson and choked with smoke. The war between the Drerenth Kingdom and the Gaenada Empire had ravaged the land, leaving an indelible mark on both nations. What began as a conflict over trade routes and resources had morphed into a fight for survival, a desperate struggle for dominance that had consumed a generation.
By the thirtieth year, the numbers told a chilling tale:
The Drerenth Kingdom:
Total Deaths: 12,000,000 (Soldiers: 10,000,000, Civilians: 2,000,000)
Population Loss: 60% (Reduced from 20 million to 8 million)
Land Lost: 2/3 of their territory now belonged to the Gaenada Empire, their once prosperous farmlands and mines now under enemy control.
Resources Depleted: Iron reserves, vital for their renowned weaponsmiths, dwindled to a trickle. Food shortages plagued the remaining cities, a constant reminder of the fertile lands they had lost.
Prisoners of War: 1,500,000 Drerenthi soldiers languished in Gaenadan prison camps, their fates uncertain.
The Gaenada Empire:
Total Deaths: 9,000,000 (Soldiers: 8,000,000, Civilians: 1,000,000)
Population Loss: 31% (Reduced from 29 million to 20 million)
Land Gained: The Gaenada now controlled the majority of the Drerenth Kingdom's former territory, their banners a constant presence in once-sacred Drerenthi lands.
Resources Strained: Despite their territorial gains, the war had stretched the Gaenada's resources thin. The constant need for fresh troops and supplies put increasing pressure on their infrastructure and economy.
Prisoners of War: 500,000 Gaenadan soldiers were held captive by the Drerenth, a number dwarfed by the staggering number of Drerenthi prisoners in their hands.
The numbers painted a stark picture, but they couldn't fully encompass the cost of the war. They didn't speak of the countless families torn apart, the villages reduced to ash, or the dreams extinguished beneath the weight of unending conflict.
The war had hardened both sides, forging them in the crucible of violence. Yet, beneath the armor and the scars, a flicker of hope remained. For the Drerenth, it was the hope of reclaiming their stolen homeland. For the Gaenada, it was the hope of finally crushing their enemy and securing their dominance.
Neither side was willing to back down. The war would continue, fueled by the bitter ashes of the past and the uncertain promise of the future. And in the heart of this conflict, amidst the ruins of a kingdom broken but not yet defeated, a dragonkin commander named Renari prepared to make her stand.
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Short chapter just to lay the foundation for the rest of the story.
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