The morning mist clung to the forest borders of Bloodstone, weaving between towering pines like pale specters reluctant to vanish under the rising sun. Dew droplets sparkled upon blades of grass, and the valley stirred beneath the gentle warmth of an ordinary summer morning.
Yet beneath that outward serenity, invisible threads continued to tighten around the settlement. The atmosphere remained heavy with a tension that only a few truly sensed, though the daily life of the valley continued its rhythmic flow.
Inside the bustling marketplace, the merchant wandered without a destination. He greeted familiar vendors with a practiced, easy smile, purchased a loaf of bread from the village baker, and complimented a local carpenter on the exquisite craftsmanship of several wooden toys displayed outside his workshop.
To any observer, he was merely becoming a recognizable face within the crowd. This was precisely his intention, as he sought to blend into the scenery.
