[Silthara Palace — Eastern Courtyard — Before Dawn]
Darkness still covered the Empire of Zahryssar; the sun had yet to rise, and the palace, usually filled with servants and nobles, had become eerily silent. Only the heavy sound of armored boots echoed across the white stone courtyard.
Thousands, upon thousands...of soldiers stood in perfect formation. The banners of the Great Noble Houses fluttered beneath the cold wind.
House Ashkarin. House Sarveth. House Raezhar. House Nabur. House Vaharath. Every noble family that remained loyal to the Imperial Throne had answered the summons.
No one spoke, not because they feared the coming war but because...everyone understood this battle would decide whether Zahryssar continued to exist...or vanished forever.
