The air grew thick with smoke. The shrieks of panicked citizens clashed with the thunder of collapsing stone as fire clawed its way up the buildings flanking the street.
"Run!" Caleb barked, grabbing Livia's wrist as another explosion rocked the ground beneath them.
The bench they'd just been sitting on toppled sideways with the force, scattering splinters across the grass.
Alaric was already moving, his body angled low. Eyes, cold and calculating, flicked from alley to alley, gauging the safest path as the world around them crumbled.
"W–what the heck is going on in the capital!?"
Elina's voice cut through the roar, high with panic. She clutched her skirts in both hands as she tried to keep pace,m.
"How would I know?" Alaric muttered, his tone was flat, but his gaze never stopped moving.
