Greatest gift
The sun's warm embrace banished the shadows and heralded a new day as the night gave way to dawn. With the first light of morning, the town's natives rose from their slumber and set about their daily tasks.
The sounds of carts creaking and children laughing echoed through the streets as people went about their daily business. However, the scars of yesterday's battle remained in the town's northern region.
Broken walls and shattered buildings lay in ruins, while brave hunters worked tirelessly to clear the rubble and rebuild what they could. Injured survivors limped through the streets, searching for a new home amidst the wreckage.
Aizel awoke from his sleep as the sound of children's chatter filled the air.
He rubbed his eyes and stretched his limbs, feeling the stiffness of a restless night. He yawned as he dragged himself from the sofa and shuffled towards the bathroom.