"Enemies from the sky! Defend the kingdom! Don't let them touch the ground!"
The shouting of knights echoed across the walls as another cannon fired, sending a deep boom into the air followed by a burst of purple smoke that spread wide like fog.
Archers reloaded frantically. Ballistae were pulled back into place. Knights on horseback raced to reinforce the front line.
The emperor, standing high on the wooden platform built just beside the city's wall, gripped his spyglass with force, raising it to his eye once again to examine the invaders closely.
His sharp eyes narrowed, and his frown deepened.
"What in the name of the heavens... what sorcery is this?!" he muttered with cold anger as he saw several of the falling figures glowing with colored light, strange spells surrounding their bodies as they floated or soared with magical grace.
One woman had her feet coated in green winds, stepping in the air like she was walking on invisible stairs.
