As he wove through the large carriages laden with goods and the smaller ones meant for passengers, monstrous creatures growled at him, their sharp, jutted teeth crawling upward as if ready to tear into him.


    The coachmen pulled on the reins, their harsh voices and firm grips on the leashes keeping the monsters under control.


    Some of them shouted at Lucien, their irritation evident as he weaved through the crowded path.


    The air was thick with dust kicked up by the carriages, mingling with the shouts of coachmen and the guttural growls of monsters. Chaos reigned in the narrow road, impatience rippling through the crowd, frustration and irritation bleeding into every movement and sound.


    Lucien kept an arm to his nose as he threaded his way through the chaos, his eyes warily watching the monsters.


    One of them lunged when he got too close. He stumbled back—heart pounding.


    Fortunately, the coachman reined the monster in, yanking hard on the leash. With loud shouts and heated arguments erupting around him, Lucien steadied himself and resumed his journey.


    Zipping through them, he reached the side of the road. From here, the long, chaotic stretch of traffic unfolded before him like a great, writhing beast—carriages creaking like its shifting bones, monsters snarling like its restless breath, and dust rising like the heat of its impatience.


    At the end of it, a long wall filled his vision, a large round arch gate standing tall. Its heavy door was slammed down onto the road, its end pulled by thick, loose chains. Various guards, crossbows in hand, moved along the wall, their eyes scanning the chaos below. Sighing, he murmured while cracking his shoulders, "Long way to go… huh."


    The walk to the gate was a slow, winding push through dust and bodies, each step filled with shouts, the clatter of wheels, and the ever-present growls of restless monsters. Lucien moved through it all, keeping his head low, his focus ahead.


    The sun''s rays bore down on him, heat trapped beneath his armor as sweat clung to his skin. His breath came heavy, each step an effort. Sometimes, the passing shadow of a carriage offered a brief reprieve, a moment of cool shade against the relentless heat. And in those rare moments, when the wind stirred, it carried the faintest hint of something cleaner, a brief taste of air untouched by dust and sweat—gone as quickly as it came.


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    Step by step, the towering arch grew closer, its massive stone frame rising above the restless tide of travelers. Each footfall felt heavier, the weight of heat, dust, and exhaustion pressing down on him.


    With every passing moment, the gate dominated more of his vision.


    Until at last, he stood just a few steps away. The massive archway towered before him, dominating his vision. Guards clad in armor adorned with leaf-like engravings moved cautiously, their eyes sharp as they inspected each passing carriage with practiced scrutiny.


    Among them, a cargo carriage rolled forward, its wooden frame unremarkable, its markings faded from long travel. The guards barely spared it a glance before waving it through. Yet, as Lucien''s eyes flicked over its surface, something made him pause. A faint insignia, half-scratched off near the base—one he had seen before. It wasn''t distinct enough to be recognized at a glance, but it stirred something deep in his memory.


    "Did I know it from somewhere?" Lucien tilted his head, a puzzled expression crossing his face.


    For a moment, he lingered on the thought, eyes narrowing as if grasping at the edges of a half-formed memory. But nothing came.


    Shaking his head, he exhaled sharply. "Never mind. Let''s get going."


    He moved ahead, his footsteps thudding against the metal of the gate. As he drew closer, one of the guards took notice, his gaze sharpening before he barked out,


    "Stop there!"


    Lucien held out his hand slightly, a gesture of surrender, he grumbled. "Geez man… no need to shout."


    The guard inched closer, his grip tightening on his weapon. "Put your hands up. Fully."


    Lucien sighed, raising his arms a bit higher. "Alright, alright. No need to be so jumpy."


    The guard inspected him thoroughly, his hands moving over Lucien''s belongings before grabbing his bag. "What''s inside?" he asked, his eyes boring into him.


    Lucien shrugged, his tone casual. "What''s the point of asking when you''re going to check it anyway?"


    The guard''s voice rose slightly, drawing a few glances from nearby travelers. His eyes hardened. "That means you stole it, didn''t you?"


    Lucien''s expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he reached into his pouch.


    The guard narrowed his eyes, his hand shifting to the hilt of his weapon. "Stop, before I''m forced to take action."


    Without a word, Lucien pulled out three bronze coins and pressed them into the guard''s palm. His fingers curled around the coins, the brief tension in his jaw smoothing over. He glanced around quickly, then spoke in a more neutral tone. "You can go."


    Lucien slung the bag over his shoulder and moved ahead. A few guards'' eyes followed him, but none intervened.


    He exhaled sharply, massaging his temples.


    What an asshole.


    Picking a fight just for the hell of it.