Moonlight Castle

Crows croaked as the wagon crept slowly down the road, their harsh cries echoing in the stillness. The sculptures lining the highway loomed above like petrified gods, their stone eyes watching the travelers with an air of cold judgment.

Far in the distance, the great city of Umbrax finally revealed itself on the horizon.

Calling it "great" would have been an understatement. Its size defied comprehension, stretching as far as the eye could see, a sprawling labyrinth of towering spires and crumbling walls. Yet, despite its imposing presence, the city was still a day’s ride away, its silhouette shimmering faintly in the pale light.

“Judas,” Kazimir called from the back of the wagon, his voice low and measured. “Have you noticed?”

Judas glanced over his shoulder. “Noticed what?”

“We’ve seen countless carriage tracks leading into the city,” Kazimir said, his eyes narrowing. “And yet, none have returned.”

Judas shrugged, his tone dismissive. “Well, perhaps they died. I thought you, of all people, would realize how dangerous a hunt can be.”

“Yes,” Kazimir replied, his voice tinged with unease. “But people return from hunts. Here, they don’t.”

Judas frowned. “What are you implying?”

Kazimir sighed, his gaze distant, as if peering into a past he’d rather forget. “I’ve seen death—more death than I can count. When stomachs are empty and people are desperate, they’ll do the most horrific things to survive.”

He paused, taking a deep breath, his eyes lifting to the gray sky above. “What I’m trying to say is this: perhaps we shouldn’t enter through the main gate. Just in case.”

Judas turned to look at him, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, he said nothing, the only sound the steady creak of the wagon wheels. Finally, he nodded. “All right. You’d know better than I would.”

With that, Judas steered the wagon onto one of the countless side roads branching off the main highway, each one winding its way toward the city like veins leading to a heart of stone.