Astheria was a cacophony of life by day, market stalls clamored for attention, merchants haggled fiercely over prices, and nobles paraded in luxurious carriages, their guards flanking them like shadows.
Banners fluttered proudly in the wind, adding to the vibrant chaos.
But all of these noise do not matter in this place.
Nestled on the outskirts, far from the bustling heart of the city where trees stood tall and thick, lay a secluded manor. Its gates were rusted, its walls unadorned compared to the marble grandeur of noble estates.
A heavy silence enveloped this place, broken only by the soft chirping of crickets hidden in the brush.
To an unsuspecting passerby, it might have seemed abandoned.
Yet inside, life pulsed with an unseen energy. Carriages filled the courtyard, their crests concealed beneath drab cloths to mask their owners' identities.
Horses shifted nervously as riders exchanged hushed whispers before slipping through the manor's doors.
