Story 261: The Citadel's Shadow

With the golden key in hand, Damien and Mira set their sights on the Southern Citadel. The stories they'd heard painted it as a stronghold of both resources and ancient knowledge, but also a place haunted by strange apparitions. As they approached the towering fortress, its walls covered in ivy and shadowed by dark clouds, Damien felt a chill run down his spine.

The heavy gates groaned as they pushed them open, revealing a desolate courtyard littered with broken weapons and decayed bodies. Silence filled the air, save for the faint hum of wind whipping through empty towers. Mira clutched her amulet, its light faint but steady. “This place…it’s heavy with sorrow. I can feel it.”

Damien nodded, his gaze scanning the abandoned structures. “The people here didn’t just leave. They fought to the last breath.”