Near the warehouse where Iron Shield clashed with the royal mages and knights, the night was alive with violence.
The air trembled with the clang of steel, the deep rumble of earth-shattering magic, and the deafening roar of fire ripping through stone. Every impact sent dull vibrations down the narrow cobblestone streets, rattling windows and shaking doors.
It was loud enough to rip people from their sleep.
Lanterns flared to life in houses lining the streets. Wooden shutters creaked open, faces peered out. A few called to their neighbors, voices hushed but urgent.
"What's going on?"
"Is it an attack?"
Curiosity outweighed caution. Within minutes, men and women wrapped in nightcloaks and carrying torches began to gather. They moved toward the noise, the sound guiding them like a drumbeat.
