The surviving warriors gathered at the courtyard's edge, their breath forming clouds in the frigid air as they prepared to leave the carnage behind. Elena sat propped against a broken pillar, her face pale but determined as she watched Maria organize the remaining forces. Two of Thornvale's most trusted guards flanked their injured queen, their hands resting on their weapons as they scanned the surrounding ruins for potential threats.
"The Obsidian Spire," Commander Lyra repeated, her white eyes reflecting the dim light filtering through the perpetual gloom. "Even the name sounds like a trap."
"Everything about this realm is a trap," Elysia replied, adjusting her grip on her weapon as she surveyed their depleted numbers. Of the original force that had entered Luna's domain, fewer than twenty warriors remained combat-ready. The rest lay scattered across multiple battlefields, their sacrifice a stark reminder of the price they were paying for this rescue mission.
