The alarm bell's relentless clang echoed through Zarpha as Adrian burst into the courtyard, his fiery chains glowing faintly around his arms. The city was alive with chaos—soldiers scrambling to their posts, orders being shouted, and terrified civilians ushered into safe zones.
"Lord Adrian!"
Selene's voice called out, cutting through the din. She approached swiftly, her silver hair shimmering in the torchlight.
"What do we have?" Adrian asked, his voice steady despite the urgency in the air.
"The Shadow Court," Selene said, her tone grim. "An entire army is advancing on Zarpha. They're less than an hour away."
Adrian's chest tightened. "How many?"
"Too many," she admitted. "Their forces are vast—swordsmen, shadow archers, summoners conjuring beasts, and something... larger. We've never seen a force of this magnitude before."