The carriage ambled slowly along the winding pathway, bordered by lush, vibrant trees that swayed gently in the morning breeze. This side of the forest stood in stark contrast to the ruin-laden ground of Lorren, untouched by the chaos wrought by the rogues. Inside the carriage, Lloyd sat in silence, his pale fingers skimming over the delicate papers spread before him. The window was firmly closed, shielding him from the harsh rays of the sun as it climbed higher in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the landscape—a light he desperately needed to avoid.
Suddenly, the carriage jolted violently as its wheels struck a rough stone lodged in the path. The sudden impact sent the vehicle bouncing, and with a sickening crunch, the tires succumbed to the unforgiving surface, breaking in the process. The carriage driver, propelled by urgency, pulled to the side and dashed toward the window, his heart racing.
