The Empire of Kannan

Ethan and Alden moved quickly, but not carelessly.

To Ethan's surprise, Alden was pretty agile. Nothing like how a normal human would move.

'Is he an Ascendant, too?' he wondered but he kept everything to himself for now. At least until he learned more about this place or this world.

"Is everything okay?" Alden asked.

Ethan nodded. "Yeah. For now."

Alden smiled as he guided Ethan through narrow paths between wooden fences and stacked barrels, avoiding the central roads where people still gathered.

Instead of cutting straight through the plaza, they took side alleys behind weavers' shops and under the shade of tall, stone-walled storehouses.

The air smelled of firewood, earth, and wild herbs. Far above, the sky was painted with streaks of crimson and gold—the sun beginning to set.

Ethan stayed close, footsteps light, his ears alert for every creak, every whisper of wind.