Early in the morning, a messenger arrived at the estate carrying the report of yesterday's battle.
His urgent knocking broke the peaceful silence. Oliver and Sophia rushed out, their faces pale and tense, and hurried toward the Church.
"Ethan!" Sophia called as soon as she stepped out of the carriage. But the moment her feet touched the ground, her breath hitched.
Her eyes widened in horror.
The once beautiful Church, along with its gardens and side buildings, was gone. The place that used to be filled with prayers and laughter had turned into a wasteland of blackened earth and ashes. Dust hung in the air, mixing with the faint smell of something burnt. Workers moved around quietly, clearing broken stones and shattered wood.
Sophia's gaze darted across the ruins until she finally found him. A lone figure sat a short distance away, resting against a massive sword stabbed into the ground. His head was lowered, and his body looked drained of all strength.
