[Lavinia's POV—Eloria, Capital Gates—The Next Afternoon]
The golden towers of Eloria rose over the horizon like a promise.
Warm sunlight kissed the marble domes, banners fluttered in bold crimson arcs, and the familiar scent of home—floral incense and sun-heated stone—wrapped around my senses like a long-forgotten embrace.
After months of battle, blood, diplomacy, and chaos…I was home.
"Your Highness," Zerith called from behind me, breathless with excitement, "the capital gates have opened!"
I lifted my gaze—and smiled faintly.
Rey stretched his arms dramatically beside me. "Finally… I can sleep peacefully. My spine is not built for war camps."
Sera elbowed him as she was sitting infront of him. "Shut up before Princess throws you back to the battlefield."
The gates didn't simply open.
They blossomed.
The massive golden doors swung outward with a thunderous echo, unleashing a wave of warmth, color, and sound.
