The conquered people

In a quiet village deep within the now-conquered lands of Aritreia, renamed the Xistic State, a grand wooden carriage rolled steadily down the White Merchant Road. Its polished surface was adorned with intricate carvings of dragons, their iron forms shimmering faintly in the pale light of the North. The carriage was surrounded by dozens of warriors, fully armed and riding tall on their horses.

Near the edge of the road, two men stood hunched over, their thick fur coats soaked and dirty. One held a battered hatchet, the other a shovel. Both men's hands trembled, whether from exhaustion or from the biting cold. They were part of a labor team sent to clear and repair the road, ensuring merchant wagons and troop movements could pass smoothly. They were working to maintain the integration of the kingdom.

One of the workers paused, staring at the ornate carriage as it appeared on the horizon. His eyes widened in awe.