Later that afternoon, Aldric entered the quiet corridor outside the infirmary carrying a stack of thick parchment ledgers. His face was pale, lined with dark circles, but his movements remained sharp and precise.
"The initial surveys are complete," Aldric said as Soren stepped out into the hallway.
"The lower district took the brunt of the discharge. Nearly forty percent of the residential structures near the docks suffered structural collapse or severe scorching."
Soren rested his hand against the stone windowsill. "The middle district?"
"Minor damage," Aldric replied, consulting his notes. "The mages held the main thoroughfares long enough for the channels to clear. The upper terraces and the palace grounds are completely intact."
"And the casualties?"
Aldric paused, his thumb hovering over the edge of a page.
