The sun hung low over the horizon as Kael and his forces marched toward Azrana. The desert winds whipped through the dunes, stinging the skin of soldiers who had become accustomed to the heat. The air was thick with dust and tension. Even the mighty Kael, once fearless in battle, could not shake the unease that gnawed at his mind.
Azrana lay ahead, a city nestled in the heart of the desert, its walls towering above the sands like a looming shadow. The city was more than just a stronghold; it was the heart of the Emperor's empire, a symbol of his power. If Kael was to defeat the Emperor, it had to fall.
The army had grown quieter as they approached. The men knew what was at stake. The battles had been bloody, and they were weary. Yet there was a fire in their eyes—a hunger for revenge, for justice. They had come too far to turn back now.
Kael stood at the front of the army, his mind racing. The prisoner, Narek, had told them of the Emperor's plans—the relic of the First Flame, buried beneath Azrana, was no mere myth. If the Emperor found it, the entire balance of the world would tip in his favor. Kael couldn't let that happen.
"We'll need to move swiftly," Kael said to Bael, who had ridden up alongside him. "The Emperor knows we're coming. We won't have the element of surprise for long."
Bael nodded, his expression grim. "We'll have to break through the gates first. Once we're inside, the rest is a matter of finding that relic before he does."
"Agreed. We move in at dawn," Kael said. "Have the men rest tonight. Tomorrow, we finish this war."
---
The siege began before the sun had fully risen. Kael's forces had positioned themselves in the cover of the dunes, waiting for the signal. His eyes scanned the walls of Azrana, watching the guards shift uneasily. They knew something was wrong. They had no idea how wrong it was about to get.
"Prepare for battle," Kael ordered. His voice rang out across the camp, and the soldiers moved with precision, as though they had trained for this moment their entire lives.
Bael rode up, a grim smile on his face. "Ready, my lord."
Kael nodded, his gaze fixed on the distant city. "Let's make sure it stays standing for the right reasons."
With a loud roar, the battle began.
Catapults hurled rocks, battering against the stone walls of Azrana. Archers let loose a hail of arrows, covering the advancing infantry. The clash of steel against steel echoed across the desert, the sound of war like a wave crashing against the shore.
Kael led the charge himself, his sword gleaming in the morning light. He cut through the defenders with ruthless efficiency, his soldiers following suit. They had come too far to be stopped now.
But the Emperor's forces were well-prepared. The gates of Azrana, massive and reinforced, held firm against the initial assault. The defenders fought with the desperation of those who knew what was at stake. Kael's men pressed forward, their strength fueled by the knowledge that they were fighting for their homes, their families, and their future.
The battle raged for hours, the tide of war shifting back and forth. Kael's forces fought like men possessed, but the city's defenders were determined. Just as Kael began to lose hope, a familiar figure appeared in the distance.
Liora, riding hard across the battlefield, reached Kael's side. She was breathless, covered in dust and blood, but there was a fire in her eyes.
"The gates are weak, Kael," she shouted over the din of battle. "We can break through! But we need more men."
Kael looked around, seeing the cracks in the Emperor's defenses beginning to widen. He knew that this was their moment.
"Gather the reserves," Kael ordered. "We push now!"
The reserves, hidden among the dunes, charged forward. The weight of their numbers tipped the balance in Kael's favor. With one final push, the gates of Azrana were breached. The city was theirs.
But Kael's victory was short-lived. As he entered the city, he saw the true scope of the Emperor's preparations. The streets were lined with soldiers, the air thick with the smell of smoke and the sounds of impending doom. The Emperor knew they were coming.
Kael had no choice but to press on. His forces poured into the city, fighting tooth and nail for every inch of ground. The buildings around them crumbled as the battle raged on. The walls of Azrana may have fallen, but its spirit was far from broken.
The battle for Azrana was far from over. It had only just begun.