Jacin moved with a purpose, her white hair streaming behind her as she sprinted through the deserted streets of the city. The air was thick with tension, and the glow of the holographic map in her hand cast an eerie light on her determined face. Her striking blue eyes, a hallmark of the Norman family, were fixed on her destination: the gates of the United Republic. She clutched the small device tightly, following its guidance with a mixture of urgency and desperation.
Her breath came in short, sharp gasps as she neared the formidable gates that marked the border of the United Republic. The towering structures loomed ahead, guarded by heavily armed sentinels. The guards, always alert, quickly spotted her approach and raised their weapons, stepping forward to intercept her.
"Halt!" one of the guards commanded, his voice firm and unyielding. "State your business."