Velren exhaled, watching as his breath misted in the cold night air. The streets of Caelestoria stretched before him, lined with buildings of intricate stonework and metal reinforcements, their windows aglow with the cool, bluish light of crystal-powered lanterns. The hum of distant machinery mixed with the faint scent of coal and metal, a constant reminder of the kingdom's craftsmanship.
He adjusted the high collar of his new coat, pulling it tighter against the evening chill. He had to admit—Nico was right. The cold here was something else, and his bloodied, tattered uniform wouldn't have done him any favors. Fortunately, the restaurant they had stopped at doubled as an inn, which gave him the chance to clean up and buy some fresh clothes. His wallet hated him for it, but at least now he didn't look like some half-dead traveler fresh off a battlefield.
