The Crown Prince rode into yet another abandoned town, his horse's hooves sinking into the rain-soaked earth. The storm from the previous day had left its mark, turning the ground into thick mud and leaving the entire settlement damp and desolate.
He dismounted and swept his gaze across the town. Unlike the last abandoned village, the cottages here were scattered haphazardly, built without any clear order. Some leaned dangerously to one side, while others had partially collapsed, their roofs caved in from years of neglect.
Leonard searched each cottage one by one, carefully inspecting every room. However, it soon became apparent that the heavy rain had caused a flood. Water had rushed through the settlement, sweeping away nearly everything that might have remained.
