On the high outer wall of defense in Astoria, the tension that had held its breath across the battlements finally broke.
Archmage Adrius who were clad in long blue and silver robes embroidered with ancient runes stood tall at the edge of the rampart. His staff glowed faintly, attuned to the shifting tides of Magic far beyond the horizon that only he can see.
He let out a long sigh, his shoulders easing. Around him, the assembled Mages, knights, and city guards who had stood at attention for hours realised that.
The Archmage rarely showed emotion but now, relief radiated from him like the lifting of a storm cloud.
The soldiers looked at one another. No signal fires had been lit or any Magical flares in the sky. No screaming horrors crawling from the tree line. Just the breeze rolling gently from the forest's edge, carrying no danger with it.
One of the younger Mages approached hesitantly. "Archmage… is it over?"
