SKYE'S POV
The arrival of true spring in the northern mountain valleys always brought a dramatic, beautiful transformation that made the hardships of the long winter feel like a distant memory. By the middle of May, the thick blankets of snow that had choked the lower passes had completely melted away, replaced by a vibrant, rushing symphony of glacial runoff, blooming wildflowers, and the rich, earthy scent of damp soil waking up from its deep sleep.
Inside Nighthaven, the fortress buzzed with a relentless, joyful energy. The courtyard was a constant crossroads of activity—caravans arriving from the southern lowlands, miners returning from the western ridges with carts laden with copper and iron ore, and builders hammering away at the new schoolhouse expansion in the eastern district.
