"What do you mean? How does time factor into this?" Amalia frowned, recalling the conversation they'd overheard in the line at the city gate.
"You don't know?" This time, the waiter was genuinely surprised.
Amalia calmly said, "We just came out of a remote mountain area a few days ago."
"I see." The waiter nodded, "It's not a secret. You can ask anyone around here and they'll tell you."
"What's going on then?"
"It's because of the ongoing wars. Lately, the battles have become more frequent. Every year, the major sects have to send out many people, and many of the end up dead on the wars," the waiter sighed.
Ongoing wars?
Amalia wanted to ask more but she was wary of arousing suspicion.
She simply nodded her head and said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The waiter smiled and went back to his duties.