Ludwig stepped beside Celine and looked out over the capital. The city now extended far beyond the old fortifications, spreading across land the walls had once been built to protect. Roads, workshops, warehouses, and dense clusters of homes covered what had once been open ground. Lanterns burned along the newer streets, their lights tracing paths that had not existed in Celine's time. Only scattered patches of undeveloped earth remained between them.
Celine rested both hands on the weathered stone. Wind moved through her hair as she searched the darkness below. "There used to be almost nothing out there. A few farms stood farther south, but most of this was open grass."
Ludwig followed her gaze, though he could not tell which part of the sprawling city had drawn her attention. "What did you bring me to see?"
"Flowers, if any survived."
