Solmere City's gates were slowly fading into the distance as Biron finally stepped beyond them, out onto an open road that seemed to stretch on forever.
The familiar stone walls shrank with every step, and at the army's steady pace, it would not be long before they became no more than a dot on the horizon.
For months, that city had been his entire world, from walking to and from the academy to sharing meals at diners with Mirelia.
He already felt the ache of leaving behind the training grounds, the bustling market stalls, even the quiet lamplight that bathed the streets when he and Mirelia returned from a long day after training.
Those cobblestone streets had now given way to plain dirt roads that wound into the horizon.
There was nothing ahead but rolling hills, scattered trees, and the gleam of steel from the soldiers' armor, each polished surface catching the harsh midday sun.
His squad of cadets kept pace with the army, matching their rhythm without effort.
