First Steps in the Capital
The cart rolled steadily on the cobblestone road, its every wheel bumping against uneven stones with a beat that synchronized with the slow pulse of the coming night. The sun loomed low, spilling molten gold and deep amber on the horizon, painting the world in hues that were virtually unreal. Through thin slits in the wooden rails, Leon and his friends glimpsed the city spreading out before them. Vellore lay across the land like a living tapestry—high walls shining dimly in the fading light, towers reaching the heavens, and rooftops smoothed bright enough to capture the sun's dying kiss. Shadows stretched long and pointed, cloaking the streets in a dance of light and shadow.
