The dawn broke with a foreboding stillness, casting a cold, pale light across the battlefield. The sprawling field separating the two armies shimmered in the early morning mist, thick with the tension that hung between the Shadow Court and the Coalition forces. It felt as if the very air was holding its breath, waiting for the chaos that would soon erupt.
The Shadow Court's forces, strategically hidden within the natural contours of the land, were prepared for a drawn-out battle. Canila stood at the front, his gaze sweeping over the Coalition army, which had formed an imposing line across the field. Siege weapons glinted ominously under the rising sun, and heavy shield bearers braced themselves, forming a solid wall at the Coalition's frontline.
