Exiled To Italy. 3

Berlin and Milan were in the same time zone, which influenced the perceived length of the journey. The direct flight lasted around two hours, while the total travel time, including airport procedures, was closer to three hours.

As the pilot announced their entry into Italian airspace, Luca instinctively pressed himself against the window, eager to catch his first glimpse of the country's landscape.

But all he saw was a vast stretch of land caught between autumn's fading warmth and winter's slow embrace. Patches of frost clung to the earth like delicate lace, weaving through fields and forests, while scattered woodlands stood with trees half-bare, their golden and russet leaves stubbornly holding on against the creeping cold.

In the distance, the first hints of snow dusted the mountaintops. The view was an illustration, a promise of the festive season soon to come.