Declaration

Jolthar sat in the heart of the bustling town, his usual spot just outside the bakery that Nora had built with such passion.

Mira, as always, had clambered into his lap the moment he arrived, chattering away with her innocent exuberance. Her presence was a comforting distraction, but Jolthar's mind was far from at ease.

He glanced around at the townsfolk, their faces painted with a mixture of curiosity and unease as the latest rumours swept through the streets.

Whispers of invaders, burnt villages, and the strange happenings in the outlying areas spread like wildfire. The merchants who came into the town brought the rumours from the west.