Far in the distance, residents living on the outer edges of the kingdom stirred from their sleep as the deafening blast reached their homes.
Windows rattled, doors shook on their hinges, and a cold shockwave swept through the countryside like a ghostly tide.
The air itself seemed to freeze, clinging to their skin with a bite sharper than winter's breath.
"Oh my…" one woman gasped, her hands trembling as she clutched the edge of her shawl tighter around her shoulders.
Voices rose in unison as men and women stepped outside, staring toward the horizon. What had once been the bustling capital of Austerra now appeared like a frozen tomb. The city, once filled with laughter, warmth, and vibrant life, was blanketed in jagged ruin.
Towering ice spires rose like thorns against the night sky, their edges glinting with a cruel, pale blue light. From even kilometers away, the destruction was clear.
