Above the blood-soaked streets, the wind shrieks as wings beat against the smoke.
Suddenly, Muv dives from the sky, her staff glowing faintly, her other arm gripping Velira around the waist before the young lady can protest. The ground falls away beneath them, the battlefield shrinking into a whirl of chaos below.
"Retreat!" Muv's's voice cracks as she shouted, her hair whipping violently in the wind. "Ashedge warriors—fall back!"
The order ripples like thunder through the battlefield. What remains of the Ashedge formation begins pulling away, some limping, some dragging wounded kin, others covering the retreat with bloodied blades. Their disciplined withdrawal is nothing short of miraculous amid the collapse.
Velira thrashes against Muv's hold, her voice sharp with fury. "Muv! What are you doing?! Why are we retreating? Put me down this instant!"
