No longer Alone

The news had likely reached General Kido by now, but Estia had no way to confirm it. So far, no response had come back to her.

The silence gnawed at her. It could mean several things: either her message had been lost along the way, ignored, or worse, rejected.

She clenched her fists, her gaze fixed on the dark horizon. "If he doesn't intend to send reinforcements… then we're on our own."

Estia had always been a meticulous strategist, but this constant uncertainty was shaking her confidence. She wondered if her efforts to protect her group were doomed to fail.

"No," she murmured to herself, shaking her head slightly. "I can't afford to think like that."

She turned to her soldiers, who were silently working to stabilize the wounded and secure the area. Their unwavering loyalty and tireless endurance reminded her that she couldn't falter or succumb to fear.