Chapter 93: The Foreboding Silence

As dawn broke over Valoran, the entire kingdom seemed to vibrate with purpose. The sun, rising above the castle's spires, cast a golden glow over the walls and battlements, where archers and guards were already standing vigilant. The early morning air was cool, though it held a hint of the desert's arid heat, a reminder of the journey ahead.

James stood in the central courtyard, watching as groups of soldiers, mages, and scouts finalized their preparations. Wagons were loaded with supplies, food, water, and weapons, and horses stamped and whinnied as their riders tightened reins and checked saddles. The familiar hustle of a kingdom preparing for battle brought a strange sense of calm to James, who had been through countless battles but knew this would be unlike any other.