“This way,” Iloryn said while briskly leading the way through Azgara. So far, none of the buildings they passed had been destroyed. However, billows of smoke rose from several places along the eastern edge of the city. Sounds of minor clashes echoed in the distance, though it would certainly escalate once more of the invading fleet anchored and came ashore.

While following the elf, Liam took note of the surrounding buildings. Compared to everything in Crey, the buildings here looked far more sturdy. Many of them actually reminded him of the structure of the Adventurer Guild just in terms of quality.

Eventually, they passed an area that had been leveled by the enemy weapons. Cinders still fumed around the site of impact. Nearly a block of buildings, no matter the materials they were initially composed of, were now completely leveled and burned. Only charred piles of rubble and a few remnants of small fires remained. Iloryn shied away from it like the plague. The others could only look at it with worried expressions. Liam, on the other hand, furrowed his brows and noted, It's like some sort of explosive napalm...

A little ways past the ruins, Iloryn led them closer to the enormous palace. Movement on the other side of the gates caught their attention. A handful of well-dressed individuals, including an absurdly obese man with a combover and handlebar mustache, apparently exited the building shortly before Liam and the others arrived in the area. Well, the fat man waddled, but they were all heading towards the stables in the courtyard. One of the guards escorting the well-dressed people noticed Liam's group and warned the people around him. They raised their weapons and stood in a defensive formation but continued to escort the people to the stable.

“Think we should talk to them?” Kael asked, directing the question at Iloryn.

For a moment, she remained silent in hesitation, torn between her desire to reach her home and the possibility of learning more about the situation. Then, she resumed walking and said, “No, let's keep going.”

“Perhaps send one of us to ask him what is going on and catch up after?” Cairnech inquired, following after her.

In response, she stopped on her heels, turned around, and asked, “Are you familiar with the city?”

“I am.”

“Do you know where the Wynnelis estate is?”

“I do.”

“Then go, but make sure you catch up. And, here,” she said, handing over an insignia from the travel pack at her waist.

“Thank you. I will meet you again later,” Cairnech said, bowing slightly.

After a brief nod, Iloryn spun on her heels and resumed walking once more. Kael followed right behind her, but Liam leaned toward Cairnech and muttered, “You're a sly old man.”

“I prefer the term 'wise', but I suppose you are not wrong,” the old veteran replied.

Nora tilted her head and waited for Liam to finish talking. Noticing it, Liam waved her off and said, “Go on, I'll catch up in a moment.”

“Okay...” she affirmed, though she raised a brow while catching up with Iloryn and Kael.

Although he figured Nora could still hear them, Liam faced Cairnech again and asked, “Does this have to do with what that soldier told you?”

“Aye, partly, but I also have a feeling the defending army will retreat as soon as these nobles evacuate. It'll cause problems for us later.”

“Sounds a bit typical.”

“Perhaps, but I've heard good things about Duke Ramsbottom. Figured I'd at least tell him Ekram is waiting atop Anders Hill. Now,” he pointed at the others, “go catch up with 'em before they leave you behind.”

Liam nodded and left the old man to his business.

Cairnech casually approached the nervous huddle of nobles and guards. Then, about ten paces away from them, the closest guard exclaimed, “Halt! Identify yourself?”

“Ah, I suppose this is the time I show this…” Cairnech muttered, raising the insignia. “I am here with Iloryn Wynnelis.”

Although slightly hesitant, the guards lowered their swords and spears upon seeing the arrow-pierced oak leaf. Behind them, the nobles began whispering to each other upon hearing the name of the elven woman. A moment later, the fat man, supposedly the magistrate, stepped forward and bowed slightly, though it looked rather clumsy due to the rolls of blubber hanging over his beltline. Even his loosely fitting cotton shirt could not hide much of it. Cairnech struggled not to react to it.

“I suppose that was Lady Iloryn with you just now?” the plump man inquired.

“Yeah. I came over here to figure out what was going on, exactly.”

“Oh, I see. I see.” the plump man nodded understandingly and thoughtfully rubbed his double chin. “Why did she come back inside the city?”

“Probably to see if her family is still alive, but the kid at the gates told me such a thing would be unlikely.”

“Yes…” the magistrate lowered his gaze. “I believe her cousin was away on business as well, but the rest of her family likely did not escape.”

“Understandable,” Cairnech muttered. Then, he took a deep breath and asked, “What is the retreat plan?”

“The person in charge of defense has plans to place a temporary illusion over the city to allow allied forces to escape as soon as we notify her of our escape.”

“So, how do we avoid getting caught in the illusion?” Cairnech asked.

“You would only be able to if she marked you beforehand.”

“Seems like more of a last resort.”

“It is,” the magistrate replied, nodding. Then, he turned his head, saw his companions still standing there, and said, “Why are you still standing around? Get in the carriages.”

At his command, the others, including all but one guard, filed into the carriages in the stable. All of the carriages looked rather fancy and decorative as the horses pulled them outside a minute later.

Meanwhile, the magistrate looked up at the remaining guard and commanded him, “Take a spare wagon and go with this man to the Wynnelis estate. Bring the Lady out safely, understood?”

Furrowing his brows, the soldier answered, “Yes, sir, I understand. However, I’m supposed to give the retreat signal once you escape.”

“Well, do it when Lady Iloryn escapes, then.”

“Yes, sir.”

"Another thing," Cairnech mentioned, "the leader of my troupe awaits us atop Anders Hill. I believe he'd be willing to provide extra protection if you plan to pass by Crey."

"Oh, I see," the magistrate muttered, nodding slowly. "I will speak with him. Now, if you don't mind, we shall take our leave."

The plump magistrate then clambered up the steps and into the nearest carriage. The wood creaked beneath his weight. Surprisingly, he did not need assistance, though a couple guards stood behind him just in case. As the carriage took off, he waved with a chubby hand to Cairnech and the guard he left behind.

"So, which wagon?" Cairnech asked.

"This way."

Grimacing, Liam stepped over the cinders of what used to be a support archway. Although some of the estate, rear garden included, remained standing, most of it had been reduced to ash and melted goop.

“I’ve seen a lot of fires,” Kael muttered, glancing around at the debris, “but never any that left this kind of damage.”

Iloryn briefly glanced back at him, but quickly returned her attention ahead of her as she walked into the main greeting hall, or rather, what remained of it. Blackened wood panels and melted metal supports lay in twisted heaps forming a semi-rectangular skeleton of the outer walls. Similar remains formed a slight incline a good twenty paces ahead. Most likely, it once formed a grand stairway. All around them, smaller piles of steaming cinders dotted the room. A handful managed to retain some semblance of their former shapes, whether decorative in nature like pottery, or practical furnishings like a half-intact display case. Whatever it once held had melted from the heat.

Face blank and pale as a silken sheet, Iloryn slowly and deliberately traipsed around the entire room. The others could only silently wait for her to finish. Eventually, she circled back around to them, and, without looking at them, said in a shallow voice, “This way.”

After a few brief glances shared between each other, Liam, Nora, and Kael followed. The room she led them to looked like it once served as a dining hall. Charred remains of a grand dining table had crumbled to the floor along with the numerous chairs around it. The original number of chairs was ambiguous at best. Then, all too expectedly, they walked around the table and saw charred, sinewy remains poking out through a crumbled doorway. A smoldering heap of twisted metal lay on the floor next to it. A serving cart, perhaps.

Iloryn froze as soon as she saw the blackened head and handless arm peeking around the corner. A few red fleshy bits still clung to the smoldering corpse.

Terrible way to go… Liam thought, recalling the screams of a man burned to death right before his eyes during his days as a prisoner of war. Glancing to his left, he saw Nora place a hand over her mouth and bend over slightly as if about to puke. Before she could, Liam placed a hand on the small of her back, hoping to soothe her nausea. It barely worked. However, her reaction made him wonder why she wanted to come here in the first place.

Suddenly, Iloryn spun on her heels and began walking back to the main hall, her jade-green eyes dull like a dead fish. She stumbled past them without giving any indication of noticing them. Both Liam and Kael looked at each other.

“You’ve seen that look before, too?” Kael asked.

Liam nodded. Then, he looked at Nora and said, “Follow her. She’ll probably wander around until she finds every other person and she might break if someone’s not there to pull her out of it afterward.”

“I’m okay with doing that, I guess, but why me?” Nora asked.

“It’s a bit difficult to explain, but trust me, it’ll be better if it’s you,” Liam answered.

“Uh… okay?” Nora replied, giving him one last puzzled look.

As she sauntered off after Iloryn, Kael glanced at Liam and crossed his arms. “So… what now?”

“May as well take a look around. Might be some things she’d want to hold onto.”

Kael shrugged. “Why not?”