Damien emerged from the teleportation array, blinking against the sudden shift in temperature.
Unlike Velhast's cold morning air, Ryedale was warmer, a sign that the city was well into early summer. The air smelled of cooked food and fresh spices, carried through the streets by the morning breeze.
He didn't waste time.
Without pausing to take in the sights, Damien turned toward the city's main gates.
The streets of Ryedale were already alive with movement.
Unlike Velhast, where the morning had started quiet and slow, Ryedale's people were in full motion. It was as if they had been waiting for something—waiting for the city's lockdown to end.
Merchants hurried to set up their stalls, shouting their goods to early risers. Travelers bargained loudly, eager to move before the heat of the day set in fully. The roads were already filling, a stark contrast to Velhast's sleepy start.
Damien made his way through the bustling streets, his pace brisk.
