When the sun came up, the carriage rolled through Meridian's eastern gates. The city looked different than it did when they left.
The entire neighbourhood had been evacuated, leaving empty streets that felt unsettling. The palace, or what remained of it, resembled a broken tooth against the morning sky. Yet, the walls still stood, and guards continued to patrol, maintaining order despite the lingering fear among the people.
Bork drove the carriage through the quiet streets to the Elite Knight fortress. The building had survived the first attack because its thick walls and advantageous location kept it safe from the worst of the Calamity's rampage.
Greg saw someone standing at the door, waiting, as they got closer. His heart stopped.
He whispered, "That's... fucking impossible," and pressed his face against the window of the carriage.
