As dawn's faint light began to creep over the horizon, the chill of early morning still lingered in the air. The Norse brothers, their breath visible in the crisp atmosphere, gathered with Abel and Barett at the entrance of an imposing house at the end of Narra Alley.
The atmosphere buzzed with a sense of anticipation, each figure standing resolute against the backdrop of a waking world. They were all carrying almost identical backpacks.
Lara was wearing blue jeans and a long-sleeved dark green shirt. Her usually casual topknot was replaced with intricate braids, woven close to her scalp and crowned with a simple black hat that cast a subtle shadow over her eyes. She looked like a figure from another time—modern and ancient all at once.
When Jethru learned about her plan, he tagged along for another purpose. He needed to unearth another of his hidden treasures to start constructing his martial arts school. His motivation was primarily to teach his grandchildren self-defense.
