Leo had finally returned to Zone 5. As he stepped through the towering iron gates, the ever-alert soldiers lining the entrance snapped into formation and saluted him in perfect synchrony.
He acknowledged them with a simple nod, his pace steady and purposeful.
The familiar hum of life within Zone 5 reached his ears—the chatter of soldiers, the distant clang of metal from the smithy, and the occasional laughter of civilians going about their day.
It was comforting, in its own way. This was home.
Without slowing down, Leo made his way towards the Grand Hall. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long, golden shadows on the stone-paved paths.
His boots echoed with quiet authority through the hallway as he passed by officers who briefly straightened in his presence.
Inside the Grand Hall, Victor was waiting for him. Leaning back in a well-worn armchair with a casual air, Victor had already set two steaming mugs of coffee on the table.
