The colossal bronze gates of Alika City opened wide into the Great Avenue of Palms, bathed in the warm, golden glow of thousands of hanging paper lanterns. Fragrant white flower petals drifted down from high stone balconies as cheering citizens filled the wide marble walkways.
At the head of the triumphant column, Sagiri rode his sand-strider beside colossal titan serpent Zaira. The massive serpent glided peacefully over the smooth cobblestones, her glistening blue-black scales catching the lantern light as children clapped with wonder from the rooftops.
Beside them, Squad 25 rode in full formal formation, their academy cloaks and polished shoulder guards gleaming in the evening breeze. Behind them, General Zafaru and the forty thousand southern spearmen marched in disciplined ranks, their bronze spear tips held proudly aloft.
