Sounds of mourning...

The acrid scent of smoke thickened as Adrian and the goddesses sprinted toward the gates of Zarpha, the flickering glow of fire growing more intense with every step.

The city walls, which were towering and stood sturdy, loomed ahead like silent sentinels. The streets near the gate were eerily empty, save for the faint echoes of muffled chants and the solemn toll of bells from within.

As they approached, Adrian slowed down his movement, his fiery chains flickering and dimming.

The sight beyond the gates wasn't what he had anticipated; it wasn't looking or sounding like a city in the middle of a war or battle. Instead, the sounds that reached him were that of mourning.

Massive bonfires dotted the city, their flames licking the night sky, casting dancing shadows over the cobblestone streets. The air was filled with the rhythmic sounds of chants, blending with the sombre toll of the great cathedral's bells.