As Arthur rode toward the fortress, his royal guards flanking him, his eyes were drawn to the battlements above. A group of Pendralis soldiers had gathered at the highest point of the walls, where the Aragonese flag still flew, tattered and beaten.
Moments later, the banner was lowered, its golden lion crest disappearing into history. In its place, the Pendralis flag was raised, its crimson and gold colors snapping in the wind, a symbol of victory that would be remembered for centuries.
This fortress, once an unbreakable stronghold, would be recorded in history as the first conquest of an empire that would one day span half the world. The island nation of Pendralis, now claiming its place on the global stage, had taken its first step toward becoming an empire upon which the sun would never set.
