The morning air carried a gentle warmth that spread across the wide stone street as the first rays of sunlight slowly climbed above the distant rooftops. The city had only just begun to wake, yet the faint sounds of life were already spreading through the streets like ripples across still water.
Vendors were arranging stalls along the roadside, placing baskets of fruits, small trinkets, herbs, and polished tools in careful rows while exchanging casual greetings with neighbors who had done the same routine for years.
The scent of fresh bread drifted through the air from a nearby bakery, mixing with the earthy smell of damp stone and morning dew.
Eric stood near the corner of the street with a small wooden skewer in his hand, slowly chewing a roasted meat cube while observing the lively scene around him.
"This place really wakes up fast in the morning," he muttered to himself while taking another bite.
