The midday sun streamed through the thin clouds, casting its light over Hord's streets.
Hooves clattered over the uneven flagstones, which had grown pitted from years of neglect.
He Xi rode on horseback, his gaze slowly sweeping over everything around him as he followed the horse's movements.
In the vague fragments of the original owner's memories, Hord's streets had been crowded, noisy, and even somewhat dirty and disorderly, yet always filled with the bustle and vitality of people rushing about to make a living.
Back then, even in the poorest North City District, children could be seen chasing and playing in the streets and alleys, while the fragrance of freshly baked Black Bread drifted through the air.
But now, everywhere he looked, the scene was completely different.
Most of the shops on both sides of the street had their doors tightly shut. Thick layers of dust covered the doors, or yellowing, curled notices reading "For Sale" and "Closed" had been pasted over them.
The few shops that remained open were deserted as well.
Most of the shopkeepers sat behind their counters with numb expressions, too lazy even to glance at the passersby outside.
Occasionally, a few ragged children darted out from an alley, their eyes filled with wariness and longing as they stared fixedly at the pedestrians' pockets.
"It's... changed a lot here."
He Xi muttered under his breath.
The three of them silently crossed this desolate district, heading toward the building at the city's northwestern corner, with its distinctive black dome.
That was Hord's Church of the Dark Night. Unlike the deserted streets, quite a few people had gathered in front of the church.
A long line stretched from the church's plain side door all the way to the square outside.
Most of these people wore old, thin clothes