The first thing Lucian and his group noticed as they stepped past the gates of Lumious was the orderliness.
The entire settlement was organized like a military base, not a starving village. Barracks lined the interior walls, training fields stretched across the open grounds, and armed patrols marched in rhythm, their boots crunching against the frozen ground in unison.
It was far from what they expected.
Berry whistled under his breath.
"For a place that claims to have no food, they sure look busy training for a war. Makes you wonder what they're really planning."
His words carried farther than he thought. A group of soldiers running drills nearby stopped mid-step and turned their heads toward him, eyes narrowing like wolves scenting prey.
Their gazes were sharp enough to cut.
Berry froze.
"...Oops."
Luna nudged him sharply in the ribs.
"You've got the subtlety of a drunk ox."
Before the glares could escalate into something worse, an interruption came.
