Behind them, the soldiers began to murmur amongst themselves, exchanging uneasy glances. Those who hadn't known about the plan assumed the worst—that the man who had descended into the heart of the werebeast army, who had orchestrated that daring move, had sacrificed himself to turn the tide of battle.
"He was so brave," one of the soldiers whispered. "He knew the risks, and he still did it."
Another soldier nodded, lowering his head in respect. "We may have lost him, but… we will win today because of him."
The soldiers who had fought alongside Adrian, though victorious, felt a somber weight in their hearts. It was a bittersweet victory. The spectacle of his bravery—charging into thousands of werebeasts, facing down the werefox king himself—was something they would never forget. But the thought of losing him, the brave young man who had led them with such unwavering resolve, dampened the victory.