The army of Eryndor gathered before sunrise.

Hundreds of soldiers stood outside the palace gates, their armor shining beneath the pale morning light.

Lucien stood before them.

He had fought monsters beneath ancient cities.

He had crossed the First Gate.

He had faced the Eternal King.

Yet this felt different.

This time, he wasn't fighting for survival.

He was fighting for his kingdom.

And perhaps for the entire world.

Seraphina stood beside him, fully armed.

Nethros checked the weapons prepared for the journey.

Aster watched from above.

Lyra held the Crystal Heart against her chest.

Caelan stood slightly apart from everyone else.

Lucien looked at his soldiers.

"We're heading north."...