(Raiden's POV)
The sky above Windhowl dawns blood-red, as if even the heavens condemn my foolish pride.
I stand alone at the edge of the ceremonial grounds, where ancient trees tower solemnly, their branches stretched out like silent judges over today's proceedings.
The clearing we chose for the duel lies quiet and still, the early morning mist drifting between the trees like ghostly specters.
My pulse pounds heavily in my ears, each heartbeat resonating with dread.
How did it come to this—facing Zion, my closest friend, in combat over a woman whose heart I so carelessly discarded?
My fingers tremble slightly as I kneel at the edge of the river, dipping my hands into the icy water as tradition demands.
The chill shocks my senses awake, reminding me of the gravi
