Chapter 44: After Battle

Turai stood over Ijar, his sword poised to deliver the final blow. The battle was over, and the once-formidable enemy lay in pieces, barely clinging to life. But just as Turai prepared to end it, he heard a low chuckle. Ijar was laughing.

It was faint but clear enough for Turai to catch. The eerie sound made him pause. There was no fear in Ijar's voice, only malice and a twisted sense of amusement. The laughter echoed in the desolate battlefield, carried by the faint wind. 

Meanwhile, Hubert had successfully subdued Maya. He had her bound with special ropes that inhibited any use of magic, rendering her completely powerless. She lay on the ground, defeated, her face a mixture of anger and despair. She could do nothing as Turai and Ijar's final confrontation played out before her eyes.