Noah stumbled out of the collapse of space with a faint ripple in the air, his boots crunching against grit.
He steadied himself, breathing in the heavy air of the capital.
The scent of smoke, horses, and fried bread carried down the narrow alley he stood in.
He tugged his coat straight, dusting at the hem before walking towards the sliver of light ahead.
The capital unfurled before him.
Wide avenues lined with high stone buildings.
Merchants hawking their wares from stalls. Beggars calling for alms in the gutters.
Children playing by roadsides, laughing as though the world wasn't rotten at its core.
Noah blended with the flow of people, his eyes cool and calculating as he took in every face.
He had no true destination, only the urge to walk where memory tugged.
And memory led him to the courtyard. The courtyard he'd heard so much about.
It was bustling now, filled with merchants, guards keeping a lazy watch, and the constant chatter of trade.
