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The snow had finally settled, blanketing the city of Bards in a serene, crystalline quiet.
The sun climbed higher into the pale winter sky, its light glinting off rooftops and treetops, casting long, sharp shadows on the ground.
Inside the inn, the air was warmer, filled with the gentle hum of activity. The group had gathered in the main hall, breakfast finished, their belongings packed.
The time to depart for Luvenza was near.
But two figures were still absent.
Kier and Crown Prince Kayer de Ruchuster had been in private conversation since sunrise. Kier, with his quiet determination, had requested the meeting, and Kayer had agreed, his curiosity piqued by the boy's unusual composure.
The rest of the group waited in subdued silence, their thoughts scattered amidst the events of the past few days.
