Ranio's POV
We had been traveling for hours, the daylight slowly giving way to the orange hues of dusk. Our movements were slow, deliberate, and skeptical to avoid drawing attention. I could feel the tension in the air as we made our way toward the East, trying to blend in with the traders and common folk who wandered the roads. Our mission was too important to risk exposure now. We had to find Lyra, but we needed to do it without raising alarms.
The Eastern borders were heavily guarded and known for their strict control over outsiders. We decided to enter disguised as traders, leading a couple of wagons filled with furs and spices we’d gathered on the way.
Our faces were shadowed by hoods, our demeanor calm, appearing as if we were nothing more than merchants looking to barter.
As we
