[North Road — Day 65 — 10:30 AM]
The second village appeared sooner than Maya expected.
This village was different from the first.
Smaller. Older — the buildings with the dark stone of the mountains instead of the low forest's wood, the architectural style with proportions that belonged to something predating the style Port Umbral mixed. No visible market. With the stillness of a place that doesn't expect frequent visitors.
Kira had spotted the branch road in time.
"Are we going?" Maya had said, pointing at the branch.
"Yes," Seraph had said before anyone else could respond.
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The village had thirty houses at most.
The people looked at the team with the specific attention of people who saw outsiders infrequently — not hostile, not enthusiastic. Evaluative. Two children ran toward the team from the central square.
They stopped three meters away.
They looked at Grim.
Grim looked back with crimson flames.
