The journey from Eastmarch to Northreach took several days. They crossed frozen borders, traversed dense pine forests, and passed through train stations that were beginning to bustle again in the wake of the war.
Finally, the black SUV crossed the threshold into Iron Hearth.
Elara gazed out the window. The city was just as she remembered—factory smoke billowing in the distance, electric streetlights flickering to life along the roads, and citizens in thick coats walking along paved sidewalks. Yet, something felt different.
It felt... like home.
When she first arrived here, she was merely an exiled mage seeking sanctuary—Rianor's partner in technological development. A stranger accepted for her utility, not for who she was.
But now? This city felt like where she belonged.
