บท 416: The Day of Declaration

The news spread like wildfire. It began as whispers in the dark corners of taverns and back alleys, barely audible over the clink of mugs and hum of idle conversation. Then it became the loud chatter of the markets, a swell of voices carrying the message from one end of the capital to the other. By noon, it was no longer a rumor. It was official—Astellia was at war with Varzadia. The proclamation of war had been made, and it echoed through the streets of Astellia, reaching every ear, from the bustling marketplaces to the quiet homes that lay in the city's heart.