The swift grey steeds thundered across the stone bridges of the eastern district, their hooves kicking up clouds of fine dust in the early morning light.
Kale Ardentis rode at the head of the imperial detachment, his posture completely rigid as his green eyes scanned the outer city walls. Behind him, the eight elite imperial artificers maintained a disciplined double line, their silver armour clanking rhythmically with every stride.
Emberheart's urban sprawl gradually gave way to jagged basalt ridges and steep rocky paths leading toward the eastern wilderness.
The ambient air grew steadily colder, carrying a sharp metallic tang that signalled high concentrations of volatile environmental mana.
Deep within his spatial storage, the six obsidian research tablets recovered from House Morrow's vault vibrated softly, resonating with the distant anomaly.
