The market district looked old and broken, but it still retained some shape. Stone lanes stretched between collapsed stalls, and faded signs hung above abandoned shopfronts. Empty carts sat half buried in dust, as if merchants had only recently walked away.
Helen walked beside Zich carefully, scanning the storefronts as they moved. "This place must have been busy once," she said softly. "There are still labels on some of the stalls."
Zich gave a small nod and approached a broken notice board near the center of the market lane. The board had split in half, yet several faded notices still clung to it beneath rusted nails. He leaned closer to examine them.
The papers were old and brittle, but parts remained readable.
[Escort Caravans]
[Dragon Stable Repairs]
[Missing Patrols]
[Ration Orders]
[Curfew After Blood Mist Sightings]
Zich narrowed his eyes slightly. Beyond the board, he spotted sealed shopfronts, storage locks, and old vault doors buried behind collapsed counters.
