章 111: The first battle

The morning sun was just beginning to break the horizon, casting a golden hue over the landscape as we gathered at the edge of the forest. The coalition forces, a diverse assembly of warriors from neighboring villages and kingdoms, stood ready. Faces were set in determined lines, and the air buzzed with a tense, quiet energy. The key Brotherhood stronghold lay ahead, hidden within the dense woods, and we knew the battle to come would be fierce.

Seraphina stood beside me, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Are you ready, Elara?" she asked, her voice calm but resolute.

I nodded, feeling the familiar surge of determination. "I'm ready. Let's end this."

With a signal from our commander, the coalition began to move. We advanced through the trees, the underbrush crunching softly beneath our boots. The stronghold soon came into view—a dark, foreboding fortress of stone and iron, its high walls patrolled by vigilant Brotherhood members.