A collective gasp, quickly suppressed, rippled through the small group of advisors. Five thousand against twenty thousand. The odds were grim.
"What of the people?" Viana asked, her voice tight.
Joel stepped forward. "The evacuation orders have been sent. The gates are open to them. Refugees are already streaming in from the closest farms. But the scale of it... many will not make it in time. We must prioritize the city's defense. Protecting the citizens within the walls."
Viana nodded. It was a harsh truth, but necessary. They couldn't save everyone. They had to save the heart of Elysia.
"Arden," Viana turned to the alchemist, whose eyes, though tired, glittered with a dangerous focus. "What do you have for us beyond the Sunstone Dust?"
