The black SUV continued its steady trek southward.
Several days had passed since they departed from Iron Hearth. The trees here weren't as towering as those in the north, but they were denser, more untamed. The road had transitioned into hard, stony earth, scarred by the deep ruts of merchant wagons that had traveled this path for years.
Here, at the border between Ironhold and the territories leading toward the Emerald Union, the air felt different. It lacked the biting chill of Northreach but carried a heavy humidity. The scent of damp earth and sodden leaves filled the cabin whenever a window was rolled down.
Inside the vehicle, a sense of routine had settled in. The initial nervousness of the first day had evaporated, replaced by the quiet habits formed during a long journey.
