At night, the Fountain District was no less lively than during the day, though drinkers replaced laborers. By dawn, however, the revelers would retreat home for well-deserved rest. But for now, the night still had hours left, and the streets teemed with activity.
As the Pleiades, led by Averkane, moved through the bustling crowds, they encountered countless drunken miscreants. Yet no one dared cross the warriors' path. Everyone instinctively avoided them, just as one might steer clear of a dangerous precipice.
At the rear of the group, Shahin, having shed his old demons, felt reinvigorated. He repeated to himself that his actions were for the greater good, that this fight was worth pursuing, and that if he were to die along the way, he would have no regrets.
As they reached the outskirts of the royal palace, the first light of dawn began to dispel the night.
