The heavy stench of burned timber hung thick in the air, permeating every corner of District One due to the sheer size of the central forest and the close proximity of the residential homes. Chris and the mages of District One had spent the entire day laboring tirelessly to contain the spread of the inferno, finally extinguishing the last of the flames after hours of exhausting effort.
Chris had taken no physical part in fighting the fire; instead, he had marched toward the courtyard adjacent to the palace to inspect the aftermath of the District Two refugees. Yet when he arrived at the grounds, he found the entire perimeter completely deserted. As he walked back to rejoin his unit, the reality of what he had observed began to gnaw at his thoughts.
