The moment the sun dipped below the horizon, the entire capital was completely transformed.
Because the empire did not have modern lighting, the streets were normally cast in heavy, dark shadows by nightfall. But the Vanguard family had poured an absolutely staggering amount of gold into this single evening. Instead of relying on a few large torches, they had commissioned tens of thousands of small, shallow ceramic bowls filled with oil and a cotton wick. These little lamps, known as diyas, were placed on every single boundary wall, every stone step, and every windowsill leading up to the estate.
The sheer number of them turned the night into brilliant, flickering daylight. Mixed into the oil was a specifically crafted scent that smelled exactly like fresh rain and clean water, washing away the usual dust and grime of the capital.
