Chapter 50 - The Weight of the Crown

The war dragged on for weeks, each day bringing more casualties than the last. The air reeked of sweat, blood, and damp earth, a constant reminder of the endless cycle of violence. Supplies were running dangerously low on both sides, but the Kilwa soldiers suffered the most. Their desperation was evident in the way they fought—erratic, reckless, fueled by hunger and dwindling morale.

Beyond the command tent, the Nuri warriors sat in clusters, their armor caked with dried mud, their once-proud spears now chipped and dulled. Some whispered prayers to their ancestors, others stared blankly into the fire, lost in thought. A few sharpened their weapons with mechanical precision, their movements fueled by muscle memory rather than purpose. Doubt lingered in their eyes—how much longer could they endure this? How many more would die before it was over?