The guard looked at him.
Measured him instantly.
"Name."
"Andres."
"Origin?"
"…Unknown."
Silence.
The guard didn't like that answer.
But he had seen worse.
"Entry fee."
Two silver coins.
Andres had nothing.
But instead of panic—
He analyzed.
Value system.
Currency-based control.
Social gatekeeping.
"…So this is how this world controls movement."
he thought.
He stepped aside.
Not defeated.
Learning.
Behind him, Velmora moved like a living system.
Trade.
Power.
Information.
Opportunity.
And somewhere inside the city—
Someone named Lyra Velmora was about to change everything.