The gentle, rhythmic swaying of the carriage had finally pulled Lexel into a deep, dreamless sleep. After the sheer physical toll of weaponizing his own existence against an entire army, his body had demanded a total shutdown.
But the peace didn't last.
A low, thunderous rumble began to vibrate through the wooden floorboards of the carriage. It wasn't the sound of marching boots or siege engines; it was the deafening, overlapping roar of thousands of human voices.
Lexel's eyes barely fluttered open, squinting against the bright midday sun streaming through the carriage window. As his vision slowly focused, the blur of colors outside resolved into a massive, overflowing sea of people. The streets of the capital were lined shoulder-to-shoulder with the citizens of Jaar. And they were all smiling.
"Lexel! Lexel!"
