<Next Day, at dawn>
The dawn broke with a chilly wind that whispered through the empty streets of Veilcroft. The sky was a canvas of muted grays, the sun still hidden below the horizon, casting long shadows that clung to the city's walls like dark memories.
The streets were silent, more so than usual. Veilcroft had always been quiet at this hour, but today, the stillness felt different—oppressive, almost suffocating. The recent disturbances had driven people indoors, their fear and unease palpable even in the empty spaces they left behind.
I stood beside Warden Shanks, the only other figure in the vicinity. The chill didn't seem to bother him, his imposing form a stark contrast to the cold, quiet dawn. Indeed, it seemed that he was a man accustomed to this kind of tension, his expression set in a cold mask.
'As expected. Becoming a Warden would not be easy.'