As the sun stretched across the horizon like a strip of blood red, the silhouette of the Evershade Marquisate finally entered our field of vision.
Although the clouds had dispersed, the ground was still muddy and heavy from days of rain. Our black carriage approached the city's massive walls, its wheels creaking with every turn.
Evershade was the settlement closest to the border of the Demon Empire.
Its walls were built of black granite blocks defying the sky, constructed for pure defense and durability rather than aesthetics.
At the entrance gate, a group of guards wearing armor embroidered with the "Storm Bird," the crest of the Marquisate, and waiting alertly with their hands on their spears, stopped the carriage.
The carriage stopped. The door opened, and Eric stepped down with heavy steps in his silver embroidered armor.
He stepped onto the rain soaked muddy ground and approached the commander of the guards with solemnity.
