The stone circle swallowed them, and the light grew heavier, almost metallic.
Boots scraped over a ground too dry to be natural — a ground that had already drunk blood.
As planned, the Awakened led the way. Maggie on the left, Elisa on the right, Zirel at the point. Behind them, the other Awakened followed, and further back the regular soldiers advanced in tight formation, their shields raised into a moving wall. It wasn't heroism — just simple tactics: the Awakened broke defenses, killed the beasts, and the soldiers secured every scrap of gained ground. Like a cold, efficient machine.
The first few meters passed in silence.
Then, a breath…
