Three weeks after the ceasefire, Iron Hearth returned to its old rhythm.
The factories in the industrial district were back in full operation—chimneys belched white smoke into the grey sky, and the rhythmic thud of casting machines became a constant backdrop. Lightning Rail trains glided by on schedule, carrying passengers and cargo to every corner of Northreach. The markets were bustling again, shops reopened, and children ran along clean asphalt sidewalks.
The war had ended. For now.
And for the Sudrath family, life—with all its chaos and warmth—had to move forward.
Meridoss, Emerald Union
The canals of Meridoss sparkled under the morning sun as Rumina Sudrath stepped out of the carriage that had brought her from the station. The city hadn't changed—it was just as busy, just as humid, and just as alien to a nose accustomed to the dry air of Northreach.
