The capital was alive with festivity. Lanterns flickered along the streets, colorful banners swayed from rooftops, and laughter echoed throughout every neighborhood.
The launch of the Morningstar Group had sent shockwaves through the city; their name was on everyone's lips.
Yet beneath the cheers and bright storefronts, the night held an unusual darkness.
An unsettling mix of iron and rain filled the air. And far from the lively center of Astheria… death loomed quietly.
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Just a Few Kilometers from the Capital
The carriage trundled steadily over the cobblestone path, the wheels softly crunching against the gravel.
Inside, Clara sat by the window, a stack of ledgers resting on her lap.
Her tidy brown hair was pulled back into a low bun, with a few stray strands brushing her cheek as the wind slipped through a crack in the window.
