What, exactly, were they supposed to be looking for?
That question lingered between them as they began walking through Salca, unspoken but persistent. They knew the name of the city. They knew it mattered. Beyond that, the notebooks had offered nothing concrete. No symbols to follow, no landmarks marked in ink, no instructions carved into certainty.
Salca unfolded around them without ceremony.
The streets were alive with movement, filled with a mix of races that made the city feel familiar rather than strange. Humans passed by carrying crates or chatting casually, elves moved with their usual quiet grace, a pair of vampires walked together near a side street, and beastfolk weaved through the crowd without drawing a second glance. It wasn't isolated or secretive. If anything, it felt open, lived-in.
