The castle hummed with quiet anticipation as Kade stood on the balcony of his chambers, gazing out at the sprawling grounds below. Soldiers sparred in the courtyard, their shouts mixing with the metallic clang of weapons. Beyond the walls, the forest stretched into the horizon, its stillness heavy with the promise of more conflict. Despite their victories, the looming specter of Verath's forces remained, refusing to let him relax.
"This is fine,"
he thought, gripping the stone railing harder than he intended.
"Totally fine. We're winning, right? Winning means I don't need to figure out why I feel like I'm two steps away from catastrophe."
The sound of soft footsteps behind him pulled him from his spiraling thoughts. Turning, he saw Vask entering the chamber, his expression composed as always. The crimson-eyed advisor bowed slightly before stepping forward.
'My lord,'
Vask began,
