The sun was just beginning to rise when we reached the outskirts of the Brotherhood's headquarters. The sky was streaked with shades of pink and orange, a deceptive beauty that belied the violence that was about to unfold.
I could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on my shoulders as Seraphina and I led our forces through the dense forest, our footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of leaves underfoot.
The tension in the air was almost tangible, a charged silence that spoke of the danger ahead. Our coalition of allies—villagers, trained fighters, and those who had lost everything to the Brotherhood—moved with purpose, their expressions set in grim determination. Each of us knew what was at stake, and none of us were willing to back down now.