As the news of the legendary Immortal Valentina from the Continent of Auranel spread across the Three Floating Continents, the shock it carried reached even the furthest corners of civilization.
Merchants abandoned their usual discussions about profits in favor of rumors, wandering spell casters whispered to one another in lowered voices.
Meanwhile, in the central lands of the Continent of Vahana, where the Fairyborn Empire reigned over one of the largest and most prosperous regions of the continent, the morning appeared as lively as any other.
The broad streets overflowed with merchants opening their stalls, travelers haggled over prices, children darted between the crowds while chasing one another, and the aroma of freshly baked bread mixed with the fragrance of fruits and spices drifting through the market.
To an outsider, the city seemed unchanged. Yet beneath that familiar liveliness lingered an invisible tension that everyone could feel but few dared mention aloud.
