On the other side of the drawbridge, a crowd of people — the last of the citizens to be led into the inner keep — were waiting for their turn to cross. The elderly were holding the smallest of children, while those who were old enough to stand on their own were hugging their legs, looking around with curious eyes.
These kids had grown up while looking at the distant, magnificent palace of the Mason King, but few had ever been inside. The adults were broken by the horrors of war, but children were far more resilient — since they barely remembered anything else, this was simply how the world was for them.
So, the light in their eyes had not been extinguished yet, and they were excited to see the castle up close.
To the side of the bridge, a crowd of children surrounded an unlikely babysitter, clamoring for his attention.
"Uncle, uncle! Tell us about the living ship!"
"Is it true that you fought a god once?"
"Uncle… what does stardust taste like? Is it sweet?"
