Feysac, Saint Millon.
In the afternoon, sunlight fell upon the palace's towering red brick walls.
The street leading straight from the palace's main gate to Vary Ascension Church had been tightly sealed off. Tall soldiers guarded the roadside, their weapons gleaming and lending the scene an air of deadly severity.
The citizens were kept outside the cordon. They craned their necks toward the palace's tightly shut gates, talking incessantly.
Time slowly passed.
"Why hasn't it started yet?"
In the crowd, Leonard asked in a low voice, "If they keep delaying, it'll be evening..."
His face was already covered by a flesh mask. Coupled with his fluent Feysacian, he looked no different from a local, apart from being slightly shorter.
"It should be soon."
Daly replied, "According to local religious customs, ceremonies are usually held at dusk."
As the sun sank westward, the slanting light of dusk instantly bathed the street in gold.
"Woooo-" At last, a bleak, mournful horn sounded all around, and the gates slowly opened.
Thud, thud, thud...
Heavy footsteps followed, shaking the ground. A unit of heavily armored warriors appeared behind the open palace gates. They were even taller than the soldiers lining the street, and mysterious runes covered their armor. Their steps were perfectly synchronized, and each footfall made the entire street tremble.
The imposing warriors marched silently down the street. Seemingly awed by their presence, the citizens fell quiet, watching that tide of iron advance step by step.
Right behind the vanguard came the cavalry. Both the towering warriors and their equally massive warhorses were encased in armor, forming steel beasts.
Cheers gradually rose from the crowd.
Three figures stood out among the cavalry. Their armor was particularly magnificent, and rather than wearing helmets, they left their fiery red hair exposed.
"Long live!"
**"Your Highness