A demon in blackened armor stepped forward and dropped to one knee before his superior.
—My commander… everything is ready to attack the human kingdom once again.
The leader, his eyes burning like embers and his voice deep as a muffled thunder, did not flinch. He calmly gazed at the horizon, his claws resting upon the hilt of his weapon.
—It is not yet the time —he replied solemnly—. We shall wait for the descent of the king. The humans still have their sages; to rush would be a mistake.
The kneeling demon bowed his head even lower, crushed by the weight of that presence.
—As you command, my lord.
A heavy silence fell over the ruined city. The ancient elven kingdom, once a symbol of harmony and life, had been reduced to ashes. In the air lingered a muted echo, as if the spirits of the elves wept for what had been stolen.
