The knight walked alone along the cobblestone road, his boots striking a steady rhythm against the street.
Carts laden with goods rolled past at a measured pace, their drivers guiding them carefully between shuttered storefronts and thinning crowds.
A handful of shops remained open, but most stood closed, wooden boards fastened over their windows. Even the market square lacked its former liveliness.
The usual hum of trade was gone. Conversations were hushed. Passersby kept their heads lowered and moved quickly, avoiding eye contact.
No children played in the alleys. No laughter echoed between buildings.
Only the distant barking of dogs and the restless snort of horses disturbed the heavy air.
Noah found the silence unnatural.
He had visited the City of Constance years ago—once as a mercenary—when the streets had been crowded with merchants, scholars, adventurers, and travellers from every corner of the continent.
