Kael's arrival was not accompanied by thunder.
There were no flashes in the sky, nor waves of mana tearing through the air.
He simply arrived.
The imperial road stretched wide and immaculate before the enormous gates of the Imperial Capital, colossal walls of white stone and runic steel that had repelled invasions by entire armies. Surveillance runes glowed faintly along the towers, sensing every approaching flow of mana.
Kael walked alone.
Calm steps. Steady pace. Completely controlled aura.
Still, when he approached within fifty meters of the main gate, something changed.
The detection crystals began to vibrate.
The front guard soldiers—experienced men and women, veterans of campaigns against monsters and rebellions—looked at each other, tense. One of them raised his hand.
"Halt!" shouted the front guard, wielding his runic spear. "Identify yourself!"
Kael stopped.
He closed his eyes for a second.
And sighed.
