The northern border had never been so alive with celebration. The tension that had gripped the warriors for so long had finally broken, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, they could truly breathe.
The war was over.
Their lands were safe.
Their people survived. Though their bodies bore the marks of battle, cuts, bruises, and deep exhaustion, not a single life had been lost, a miracle in itself. The relief was so overwhelming that it drowned out the cold wind that usually swept over the fortress, replacing it with the roaring sounds of victory.
Commander Kovacs, a man known for his strict discipline and unshakable demeanor, had personally ordered the grand celebration, knowing that his soldiers needed this release. The great halls were filled with laughter, the clin
