Morning came early in the mid layers of Carthage, the light orbs already glowing at full strength to simulate the start of day.
The roads were still cool, with the stone buildings around them casting the same shadows across the narrow streets.
Merchants had begun preparing their stalls, and the usual clatter of carts and crates echoed through the winding paths. Somewhere in the distance, a bell rang thrice, marking the first quarter of the day.
Inside their newly acquired home, Thorn was already hard at work, hammering down planks to reinforce a partition on the upper floor.
He grumbled to himself about the uneven beams, sweat already glistening on his forehead.
Lilith, wrapped in a light tunic, stood on her toes as she painted the stone walls of the lower floor, trying to make it look bright to at least leave a positive impression on their potential clients.
It was early in the morning, but that didn't matter to them. They had a lot of work to do.
