The road led them through rolling hills and ancient forests, past villages and towns, each one a stepping stone on their journey. They took missions as they went—clearing dungeons, hunting monsters, rescuing travelers. Their reputation grew, their names whispered in taverns and guild halls. But they did not stop. They could not stop. The search was always there, a quiet hum beneath their every step.
Finally, after weeks of travel, they reached the capital of the lower world's second largest kingdom.
The city rose from the plains like a dream of steel and stone. Its walls were massive, their surfaces gleaming with a faint, magical light. Towers of crystal and iron pierced the sky, their spires catching the sun like shards of frozen fire. Bridges of glass connected the highest buildings, and below, the streets were paved with smooth, white stone. Airships drifted overhead, their sails catching the wind, their hulls painted with the sigils of merchant houses and noble families.
