Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: The Tide Turns

The day broke heavy with smoke and fire as the siege settled into grim rhythm. Ardentvale's defenders, though weary, moved with relentless purpose. The barrage of flaming stones and venom-tipped arrows rained relentlessly, battering walls aged yet unyielding.Lucien moved among the battlements, issuing orders with precise urgency. Siege towers creaked closer under relentless volleys from the city's ballistae and crossbowmen. Yet, the walls held, reinforced by earthworks and arcane wards devised by Lysara and her mages. Their magic pulsed faintly beneath stone, steady binding that slowed the accreted damage of enemy fire and suffered blows few could see.The besiegers launched a co-ordinated assault at the eastern gate—battering rams thundered, covered in wet hides to deflect flaming oils poured from above. Torrents of heated tar, a mix of mundane fire and Lysara's enchantment, cascaded onto enemy troops attempting escalade ladders.Rhea led sorties of nimble defenders in sudden sallies, striking against siege equipment and sappers tunneling beneath walls. Their goal: to disrupt the attackers' momentum and buy time for repairs. Coordinated with military precision, these incursions often left the besiegers scrambling to regroup before pressing the attack anew.In the subterranean shadows, clash of miner versus counter-miner echoed as Lysara's seers sensed tremors beneath the eastern walls. Quick to act, defenders collapsed enemy tunnels with controlled charges and magical barriers, blunting the silent threat underground.Aline's healers—her wards protecting ruins turned triage stations—worked tirelessly. Their soft chants and steady hands mended bones and soothed burns, holding the city's lifeblood flowing against overwhelming odds.As night fell, siege engines paused, their crews tending fires and reloading weapons. The city's torches burned bright, a glowing testament to endurance over encroaching darkness.Lucien stood at the gate, muscles tense, eyes sharp, knowing this day was but the first test. He whispered a vow to the approaching stars: this city, their home, would endure.