As I approached the elven kingdom, I decided to stop in the city of Allarch. From the very first moment, the tension in the air was palpable, like a string about to snap. Merchants spoke in hushed tones; some murmured about an impending war, while others feigned indifference, but their eyes watched every corner cautiously. There were even knights from the kingdom stationed in the streets, in polished armour and with spears at the ready, observing the flow of people and distant movements as if they expected something to erupt at any moment.
I moved forward with measured steps, avoiding curious glances, and entered a street where the atmosphere felt a little ambiguous. I walked with extreme caution, without being too obvious, until I found a narrow, shadowy alley. The murmur of the city was left behind, replaced by the distant dripping of water and the creaking of old wood. The walls, damp and covered in moss, seemed to breathe under their own world.
