Prologue: Stories Born in Silence (Part 1/3)

The wind blew in from Eldridge, carrying the scent of smoke, sweat, and food. The city bustled day and night, packed with vendors shouting over each other, desperate to sell their wares to anyone passing by. To put it simply, it is not a pleasant place. The streets are narrow, lined with stalls that sag under the weight of mismatched goods, their owners sharp-eyed and eager to haggle for even the smallest scraps of coin. Fights break out in alleyways, and gangs roam the streets, ready to rob anyone unlucky enough to be caught alone. But for many, Eldridge was home. A hard place, perhaps, but home all the same. On nights like this, when the wind cut through the streets, swirling around the flickering flames of the small fires that dotted the town square, there was a different kind of stillness. Even in the heart of the city, where noise and chaos ruled, there were moments when the world seemed to hold its breath.