The castle hummed with tension, its ancient halls alive with the sounds of preparation. Kade stood at the window of the war chamber, gazing out at the bustling activity below. Soldiers drilled in tight formations, messengers rushed from one wing to another, and the distant clang of smiths forging weapons echoed through the air.
"This is real,"
he thought, gripping the edge of the windowsill.
"No second takes, no script to guide me. Just me, playing the role of a lifetime."
The door behind him creaked open, and Vask stepped in, his crimson eyes sharp as ever. He placed a fresh stack of reports on the table, each scroll tied with a black ribbon.
'My lord, the scouts have returned from the marshlands,'
Vask said.
'Their findings confirm our suspicions. The Obsidian Pact is mobilizing on multiple fronts.'
Kade turned, crossing the room to examine the reports.
'How bad are we talking?'
'Bad enough,'
Vask replied.
