Chương 156: The Price of Victory

The morning after the battle was eerily quiet. The once vibrant village was now a place of quiet reflection, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and lingering smoke. Emily awoke to the sight of her comrades, all gathered around the remains of their campfire, their faces etched with exhaustion and the heavy burden of the choices they had made. The battle had been won, but the victory felt hollow.

The village, though saved, bore the scars of their struggle. Homes were reduced to charred frameworks, and the once-lively streets were littered with debris. Villagers moved about slowly, their eyes vacant as they tried to comprehend the devastation. The relief of survival was tempered by the loss they had suffered, and as Emily looked around, she could see the unspoken question in their eyes: Was it worth it?