Back in Acryon.
That evening, a grand banquet was held within the royal palace. The vast banquet hall was brilliantly illuminated by rows of crystal chandeliers hanging from the high vaulted ceiling.
Servants moved swiftly between the guests, carrying trays filled with roasted meats, exotic fruits, rich wines, and delicacies brought from every corner of the Empire.
The hall was filled with the Empire's most powerful figures. High nobles in elaborate garments conversed with influential Magi, while members of the royal family greeted the honored guests who had arrived with the Dark King's army.
Despite the great war looming on the horizon, the atmosphere in the banquet hall remained warm and vibrant.
Everyone present knew the truth.
Many of the warriors seated in that very hall would never return from the campaign that lay ahead. And perhaps that was precisely why the night felt so alive.
