Chapter 136 Astrid's Apology

• ~ Elara ~
• The scent of blood and earth still clung to the air as I stood on the hill overlooking the battlefield. The battle for Silvercrest was over, but its aftermath weighed heavily on my heart. The sun, now sinking below the horizon, cast long shadows over the land, painting everything in hues of orange and red. It almost seemed peaceful from a distance, but I knew better. The price of this temporary peace was steep.
• Below, the wounded were being tended to, the dead already being carried away to be honored. My eyes scanned the scene for Lucian. When I finally spotted him, a knot tightened in my chest. He was limping, his left arm hanging at his side. Blood trickled from a wound on his forehead, mixing with the dirt on his skin. He was hurt, but I could see in the set of his jaw and the determined way he moved that he was still in command.