Human Kingdom, Southern Border — Near Truvale Checkpost
The air was heavy with the stench of blood and smoke. Soldiers moved stiffly, their faces pale as they lifted corpses from the ground and stacked them onto carriages. The grisly work of clearing the battlefield carried on in silence, broken only by the dull thud of bodies falling into wooden carts.
Prince Charles stood a short distance away, his arms folded tightly behind his back. Beside him was his ever-loyal bodyguard, Frecio. Both men's gazes were fixed on the mangled corpses of elves scattered beyond the checkpost.
"Are you absolutely certain these bodies weren't here the last time you checked?" Charles' voice was sharp, his expression grave as his eyes narrowed at Frecio.
"I am sure, Your Majesty," Frecio replied without hesitation. "These bodies were not here before."
