Dawn came gray and cold, spreading slowly over the vast stretch of soldiers assembled beneath Valerion's banners. Armor gleamed faintly in the weak morning light, horses stamped against the frost-laced ground, and commanders moved through the ranks issuing final instructions with practiced authority. From a distance, the army looked disciplined and formidable, every formation aligned, every standard raised high as though confidence alone could shape the outcome of what was to come.
But beneath that surface, a quiet weight pressed down on those who knew the truth.
