"We're almost there."
Anderson gazed ahead, toward Night Spirit City's City Hall. Its lights still shone in the darkness, but it was heavily guarded by fully armed personnel.
Along the way, the march had grown larger and larger. Not only refugees had joined; toward the end, even ordinary civilians had begun to take part.
They held their signs high, demanding equal access to education, tax relief, and more.
"There must be nearly a million people." Dusha glanced back at the dense crowd behind them. Holding all manner of lights, they pressed on through the wind and snow, silent and resolute.
"It shows how much resentment has built up. Everyone lives under constant oppression, and once that pressure is ignited, it can easily erupt. That's when Night Spirit City will really be in trouble. If those at the top can make even a small change now, there's still hope." Anderson sighed.
He knew it would be hard to make those at the top relent. He did not even understand why things were this way.
He had once asked his maternal grandfather, Duke Han Xi, the cold, high-ranking Silver Noble, but the duke had offered no response.
It was strange.
Even the Land of Exiles did not exploit its own people like this.
All he could say was that the Silver Nobles' indifference stemmed from the indifference of the supreme Five-Person Council. Perhaps they knew certain secrets.
But regardless, they had succeeded.
The voices of a small group would reach more people, spreading farther and farther. Even the other cities, and eventually Sky City, would hear them.
Then more and more people would join.
One day, they would part the clouds and see the light.
"Something's strange. Normally, with a march this big, far beyond even our expectations, there's no reason those