The roadside was a scene of organized chaos as the Auzelian knights and the Solaric survivors merged into a temporary camp. Zarius stood at the edge of the clearing, his arms crossed over his massive chest, his eyes sweeping over the Solaric envoy with a clinical detachment. Most of the soldiers were slumped against carriage wheels or laid out on ground, their faces pale and their breathing heavy.
The sleeping drug had indeed been extraordinary. It wasn't merely a sedative, it was a sophisticated alchemical blend designed to specifically target the nervous system of those who manipulated the elements. Even the guards who remained conscious looked like shells of themselves.
Their magic was clearly unstable, every attempt to summon even the smallest spark of light or breath of wind ended in a violent cough or trembling hands. It messed with their systems, creating a feedback loop that made their own magic feel like a poison.
