The northern forest was eerily silent in the aftermath of the battle. Mist coiled between the skeletal trees, and the faint scent of scorched earth lingered where Elvara's magic had struck. Soldiers moved cautiously through the area, their weapons at the ready despite the apparent victory. The shadowy creatures were gone, but the tension in the air was palpable.
Thadric rested his axe on his shoulder, surveying the battlefield with a satisfied grin.
'Well, that was fun,'
he said, his booming voice breaking the quiet.
'When's the next round?'
Elvara gave him a sharp look, her silver hair disheveled but her composure intact.
'If you had taken a moment to think, you might have noticed this isn't over,'
she said.
'The enemy wasn't here to win. They were here to test us.'
Thadric shrugged.
'Then I'd say they failed the test. We're still standing, and they're not.'
