Giovanni Junior departed the fortress of Vidin just two days after the battle, leaving behind an encampment that suddenly felt vast and hollow. The general took with him nearly all the cavalry forces, along with four thousand infantry, tasked with scouring the countryside for lingering resistance, replenishing the depleted garrisons, and securing the vital supply routes of the region.
The emperor remained behind—not out of choice, but necessity. Thousands of prisoners of war had yet to be processed, and the logistical burden of restoring control to the ravaged provinces demanded his continued presence. Moreover, the troops themselves needed time to rest, recover, and prepare for what lay ahead.
The year had already turned. The rain season in Bulgaria had come in full swing, with thunder rumbling like distant drums across the horizon. Rain fell in heavy sheets, slapping the roofs of tents and stone walls alike, cold as sleet and relentless as fate.
