Chapter 23: War part 14 - Giant
"My Lady, it's not looking great." Darfin's voice was calm, but his jaw was clenched as he stood atop the blood-slick cliffs that overlooked the chaos below. The scent of scorched earth, ash, and burning flesh clung to the air like a curse. "Xutag is struggling against their new giant general, while Tara and Lucy are barely holding their own. The outcome of their fight is still unclear."
He paused, the words lingering in the space between him and the ethereal projection before him. The image of Seraphine floated just above the cliff's edge, glowing faintly with divine energy, her silver hair dancing in some unfelt wind. Despite the grim report, her expression didn't waver.
"We will win, Darfin," she said, her voice soft yet unshakable. "We have to."
Then she smiled, bright as the magic flares that lit up the sky in the distance, but he saw it. Behind the light was sorrow—a grief she refused to speak, tucked beneath the weight of command and divinity.
Darfin lowered his eyes, heart tightening in his chest. 'My Lady... it had to be done. Do not torment yourself over their lives.'
But he didn't voice the thought. He bowed, letting his long blonde hair spill over his face like a curtain to hide the shadow in his eyes.
"Yes, my lady. We will."
As the projection faded into glimmering particles, swallowed by the ambient magic in the air, Darfin turned to the soldiers gathered near the rear line. The obsidian beneath their feet radiated faint heat, still warm from the fire magic cast not long ago, and the coppery tang of blood never left his tongue.
"Llarm, give me an update on the battlefield," he ordered.
He regretted it the second his eyes landed on him.
On the far right side of the elven backline, Llarm stood—again—in that absurd hero pose. One arm up, chest out, chin high. His green cloak fluttered dramatically even though the wind had long died down.