Chapter 164: Reflections and New Beginnings

The battlefield lay quiet now, the echoes of battle replaced by the murmurs of the survivors. Silverwood Falls, though scarred and battered, began to breathe again, its people emerging from the shadows of fear and loss.

I stood at the edge of the clearing, looking out over the town that had become my home. The sky was just starting to lighten with the first hints of dawn, casting a soft glow over the wreckage and the weary figures moving among it. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and earth, but there was also a new undertone of hope.

Nathanial stood beside me, his presence a comforting anchor. He had bandages wrapped around his arms and a determined set to his jaw. Despite the exhaustion etched into his features, his eyes were bright, full of the unspoken promise that we would rebuild, no matter the cost.

"It's over," he said softly, breaking the silence.

I nodded, though my heart was heavy with the knowledge that our victory had come at a steep price. So many of our friends