The Citadel that had stood in the center of the Vanishing Lake for thousands of years was all but in a battle between Changing Star and Moonveil. Now, it resembled a blackened ruin, with only the underground chambers remaining intact.
After the war, those who refused to join the Human Domain had been exiled to the charred ruins. They cleaned most of the debris away and used them to raise a makeshift rampart, then built a modest settlement inside.
The homes built by the exiles still remained, but the exiles themselves were gone. Instead, a strange mix of people populated the Citadel now — some of them were Awakened warriors of the Fire Keepers, some were mundane humans, and some had no discernable affiliation. Rain even thought that he noticed the characteristic garments of the River People among them.
