The line at the city gate moved slowly.
Guards stood on both sides, checking everything—documents, cargo, even questioning travelers one by one. No one was allowed through without proper inspection. The security was tighter than usual, and every movement carried tension.
Ahead in the line—
Zayne and Valeriana Azurecrest's carriage approached the checkpoint.
Behind them, a short distance away, Zane and his students waited in their disguised merchant carriage.
As Valeriana's carriage rolled forward, a few people nearby noticed the emblem on its side. The crest of Valdoria.
It wasn't something ordinary.
Only a handful of individuals had the right to bear that symbol.
One of the guards stepped forward, not yet noticing it clearly.
"Driver," he said, "documents and reason for entry—"
The driver cut him off sharply.
"Are you blind? Can't you see the crest of Valdoria Kingdom?"
The guard froze.
His eyes snapped to the emblem.
His expression changed instantly.
