The artifact arrives at the palace
It was still early morning when Princess Denise's sleek diplomatic vehicle crossed the border into Eldoria. The journey had been tense, every hum of the engine and buzz of her phone setting her nerves on edge. The crystal orb, hidden securely in a lead-lined briefcase beside her, seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy that set her teeth on edge.
As the car sped through the lush Eldorian countryside, Denise couldn't help but marvel at the stark contrast to the industrialized, somewhat polluted lands they'd left behind. Fields of golden wheat swayed in the gentle breeze, interspersed with modern wind turbines and solar farms. It was a painful reminder of what their own kingdom had sacrificed under Vincent's rule.
"Your Highness," her driver called back, "we're approaching the capital. The royal escort should be meeting us shortly."