Chapter 62: War-Torn Past

The moment Sleeve and the Shadow Serpents arrived in this foreign time, the ground beneath their feet trembled with a familiar and yet utterly alien sensation. They had been transported to the heart of a war that had shaped the pages of history, but in their own time, was nothing more than ink on a parchment.

The once serene forest was replaced by a nightmarish tableau. All around them, soldiers clad in armor clashed in a brutal struggle. Banners of different factions whipped in the turbulent wind, and the acrid scent of battle smoke stung their nostrils.

The Shadow Serpents stood frozen, watching the scene unfold in disbelief. There were no visible markers of the era they had landed in, no historical context to provide understanding. Only chaos and violence surrounded them.

Lirael, her eyes wide with shock, whispered, "This is impossible. This can't be real."

Torin, his voice grim, responded, "It's as real as it gets. This is a time and place that once existed."

As they observed the conflict, it became evident that the opposing sides were evenly matched. The war was relentless and unyielding, with no sign of resolution in sight. The Shadow Serpents exchanged concerned glances; they knew they had to tread carefully to avoid being drawn into the crossfire.

Sleeve, always the strategic thinker, assessed the situation. "We must find cover and stay hidden," he advised. "We can't interfere in this conflict; our mere presence here could have dire consequences."

They moved cautiously, staying low and keeping to the shadows as they navigated the battlefield. The sounds of clashing swords, the shouts of battle, and the distant rumble of war machines filled the air. It was a world of relentless violence and suffering, one that they had only read about in history books.

In the distance, a thunderous roar echoed, and the ground shook beneath their feet as a massive siege engine hurled a boulder toward a towering fortress. The impact sent tremors through the earth. Sleeve and the serpents shared a sobering realization—they were witnesses to a war that had been etched into the annals of their realm's history.

As they ventured further, they stumbled upon a hidden alcove within the remains of a crumbling structure. Here, they found a momentary reprieve from the relentless turmoil outside. Huddled together, they watched the war rage on, understanding that they had been thrust into a time where the lines between life and death were drawn in blood and conflict.

The Shadow Serpents realized that their journey through this war-torn past was far from over. They needed to navigate through the perilous events that lay ahead while striving to maintain the delicate balance of history. They were mere witnesses to a past they could not change, but they were determined to find their way back to their own time, carrying with them the lessons and experiences of this brutal and turbulent era.