Velria's gates loomed behind Alex, the weight of the city's atmosphere settling over him like a second cloak. The streets were lively, filled with laughter and the clatter of wheels, yet beneath the cheerful glow of lanterns, Alex sensed something off. Smiles felt too tight. Guards flinched at shadows. Even the street performers who juggled flame and steel in the plazas had an edge of desperation in their voices.
It was a city that wanted to appear alive, but behind the curtain… something rotten was emanating from the city.
Alex pulled his cloak tighter and walked with the ease of someone who belonged. His forged papers—signed by the guild master of Avila himself—would make sure of that. Still, he knew better than to present himself at the guild immediately. First impressions mattered, but timing mattered more. He needed the right stage.
The inn he chose wasn't the grandest in Velria, but it had three things Alex valued: space, anonymity, and information.
