Meanwhile, on the battlefield, a massive flame roared toward the sky, and thick black smoke spiraled upward, blotting out the sun. Emperor Philip stood solemnly before the blaze, having decided to give a respectful farewell to all the fallen soldiers of the Holy Church. Unlike the Church, he wasn't a cruel or heartless man.
Though they were enemies, the soldiers had still given their lives on the battlefield—and for that, they deserved a peaceful and respectful farewell. However, the sheer number of corpses made it nearly impossible to conduct individual rites.
So, Emperor Philip called upon the mages to assist him in cremating the dead using their powerful magical flames. Following all traditional military customs and rites, he honored even the enemy in death.
