It didn't take them long before the gates of Averiona came into view. All thanks to Lovia's incessant chatter throughout the journey, the trip felt considerably shorter than Ruvian had expected.
Ruvian's first thought, upon seeing the gates, was that they were far grander and more imposing than the gates of Valcavein City.
The streets leading to them were full of merchants, carriages, and travelers. But the traffic was surprisingly orderly, though congested, and they got into the city with little delay.
"Is it like this all the time?" Ruvian asked.
"Well, the capital is always this busy, but this week it's been a whole lot busier than normal," Lovia said, looking out at the busy streets.
"Why is that?"
"Oh, there's a small festival taking place next week," she explained. "Apparently, the capital will be celebrating the anniversary of its founding. It's an annual tradition, so merchants and visitors from all over the kingdom have already begun arriving for the festivities."
