The Imperial City did not sleep.
If anything, the hours before dawn only sharpened its energy, as though the entire capital had taken a single breath during the night and now exhaled it all at once into the streets. The celebrations that had filled the avenues past midnight had barely faded when the first wave of morning movement surged into place, replacing revelry with anticipation so thick it seemed to vibrate through stone and air alike.
Vendors who had closed their stalls only hours earlier reopened them with mechanical precision, hands moving through practiced routines as fires were rekindled, banners unfurled, and goods arranged in perfect display. The scent of fresh-cooked food spread quickly, weaving through the already crowded roads where travelers hurried toward the arena district, their arms filled with supplies, flags, betting slips, and opinions they shared freely with anyone willing—or unwilling—to listen.
