The Tides of War

The air was thick with the scent of rain and anticipation as Xypheron and Vexaria stood at the edge of the stronghold, overlooking the vast landscape before them. The fortress behind them hummed with activity, preparations for battle reaching their peak. Soldiers checked their armor, weapons were polished, and the war drums began to beat in the distance, signaling the final hour.

Vexaria adjusted the straps on her armor, her gaze sharp, her posture one of quiet readiness. Though the weight of the decision they had made was not lost on her, there was no room for doubt now. The time for hesitation had long passed.

"You're quiet," Xypheron noted, his voice laced with the tension he, too, felt. His armor was already in place, the black metal gleaming in the early morning light. His expression was hard, but Vexaria could see the subtle shift in his eyes—the reflection of a mind always strategizing, calculating.

Vexaria turned her head to meet his gaze. "Just thinking," she said softly. "We've come this far, but the real battle starts now. No more plans, no more strategies. This is it."

Xypheron was silent for a long moment before speaking again, his voice quieter now. "You know that no matter what happens, we've already changed everything. Even if we don