The minutes ticked by with only the faint sound of horses breathing and the occasional rustle of leaves in the evening breeze. The men guarding the convoy kept their eyes on the carriage, sensing that something had shifted. When the door finally creaked open, every guard straightened in their saddle, their attention snapping to the figure stepping into the cool night air. Lucas emerged with a calm expression, but the weight of his presence pressed upon them like an invisible tide. His aura, though restrained, seeped outward in quiet authority, making the very ground seem firmer beneath their feet.