A young man wearing a simple brown tunic stepped out of a narrow building tucked between two busy stalls in the central market of Valerius. The morning was already loud, filled with voices, the clatter of carts, and the steady movement of people going about their day. The smell of roasted meat, fresh bread, and damp wood mixed in the air, giving the place its usual life.
He paused for a moment just outside the doorway, stretching lightly as if he had just finished a long task. His long yellow hair fell loosely behind his shoulders, catching the sunlight in a way that made him stand out more than he probably intended. A small, mischievous smile rested on his face, one that never seemed forced. It was the kind of smile that made people relax around him without thinking too much about it.
He stepped forward into the crowd, blending in with ease despite how noticeable he looked.
