Decision made, Leon slipped through the gate itself. A group of merchants was passing through with a loaded wagon which has no horse in front, and he used their movement as cover, timing his passage perfectly to coincide with their noise and distraction.
No one noticed. No alarm sounded. He was inside.
The city opened before him like a new world. Lights blazed from windows and street lamps—magical illumination that never needed fuel or maintenance. People moved through streets even at this late hour, conducting business, heading to night markets, living lives that didn't stop when darkness fell. The energy was palpable, vibrant, alive in ways the lower domain had never managed.
But Leon ignored the spectacle. Tourist appreciation could wait. He had objectives to complete.
