The morning sun cast warm golden light across Ironhold's bustling marketplace, painting the scene with an almost festive glow of the New Year Festival.
The market square was alive with activity of pedestrians going for the Shopping spree.
Alex walked through this familiar chaos of the market; to his right, Lucy practically bounced with each step, her eyes darting from stall to stall with barely contained excitement that made her seem years younger.
Her recovery over the past three days had been nothing short of remarkable the terrified, traumatized girl who had been carried unconscious from that mountain cave was nowhere to be found and had transformed back into the energetic young woman she once had been.
"Brother Alex! Brother Alex, look at this!" Lucy exclaimed suddenly, darting toward a fabric merchant's stall with the enthusiasm of a child spotting candy.
