The morning began with a stillness that felt unnatural, even for the lower ring. The oppressive quiet seemed to blanket the streets, broken only by the occasional rustle of Plaga’s blackened vines as they writhed against the outer wall. Gerald stood at the edge of the square, his armor heavy with the weight of his duty. The air carried the faint scent of decay and earth, the unmistakable mark of Plaga’s presence.
She stood at the center of it all, her form radiant in its haunting beauty. Her tattered black dress flowed like smoke around her, her hollow eyes glowing faintly as she surveyed the gathered crowd. Today was different. Today, she would show them something they had never known under the rule of the King: freedom. But this freedom, like all things she gave, would come at a price.
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### **The Gates Fall**