The journey begins

From the west gate of Royal Port, under a clear spring sky, a solitary figure on a sandy-colored pony was leaving the city. Her gray cloak billowed lightly in the sea breeze, while the seagulls, with their shrill calls, flew over the lighthouses and high terraces of the city behind her.

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Before her, the metallic rumble of a marching army grew ever closer. The ground trembled under the heavy boots of the soldiers, and the clanging of the armor echoed in the air. A group of horsemen, banner flying in the wind, approached threateningly, led by a dwarf with a long gray beard, whose gaze was as hard as the steel that covered his sturdy pony. The group stopped in front of the traveler.

"Who are you?" asked the dwarf in a hoarse voice, his gaze attentive to every detail.

"My name is Lyria, of the Gelmith Lineage. I come from Swanport and I am headed to King's City" replied the girl, her tone calm but firm.

The dwarf, who had introduced himself as Sabba of the Rockfeet Lineage, General of the Royal Army, raised an eyebrow. "A descendant of Gelmith, yet you travel without a guard? I wonder if your words hide a different truth."

"It is not customary in Swanport to have a guard" replied Lyria, a shadow of surprise in her eyes. "We live in peace. Our doors are open and the girls swim in the sea without fear."

Sabba, stroking his beard thoughtfully, nodded slowly. "Perhaps we should envy your tranquility, but I fear you are ignorant of the world around you. Bandits and wars spare no one."

"I didn't know anything about it" admitted Lyria, her expression now more serious. "Perhaps it is true that our isolation has made us blind to what happens beyond our shores."

The general looked at her with more attentive eyes. "You were lucky to make it this far safe and sound. From now on, you will not march alone. Four of my men will escort you. And today, we will have lunch together. It is not often that one encounters a lady of your nobility."

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The company continued their journey, but beyond the Lonely River, a new danger emerged from the shadows. Archers with covered faces appeared from the edges of the road, arrows already nocked, ready to fly.

"Who are you and why are you here?" asked the chief archer, a short and thin man.

Lyria, sensing the danger, lowered her voice. "Better to comply with them" she whispered to her guard, trying to remain calm as her hand slid towards the bag.

"Don't you dare!" exclaimed one of the knights. "These are the King's Explorers."

"Who tells us that you didn't steal those uniforms?" replied in an accusatory tone the head of the archers, without lowering the bow.

But before he could do anything else, a new figure emerged from the thicket: a knight on a white horse. His long blonde hair shone in the sunlight, and he wore a blue cloak that seemed to shimmer with a magical light.

"Lower your weapons" said the half-elf in a firm but calm voice. "We protect pedestrians, we do not threaten them. Let her continue, I'll take care of it."

The archers obeyed without a word, while the knights of Lyria took their leave, returning to the army.

Left alone, the half-elf dismounted and made an elegant bow. "Alkar Silol, at your service. Despite your ears, I recognize in you a descendant of the elves."

Lyria, smiling, got off the pony. "You are sharp, Alkar. My mother was the daughter of an elf, Gelmith the Beautiful."

"A noble blood, then" replied the half-elf. "I will accompany you to the gates of the Capital, but I will not enter. My path continues elsewhere."

And so, with a new ally by her side, Lyria resumed her journey towards King's City, unaware of the shadows gathering over her fate...