Chapter 139: Shadowhold

As we step out into the open, the city of Shadowhold stretches out before us, bustling with life. The streets are lined with stone buildings, some of them carved directly into the cavern walls, others constructed from a mixture of stone and wood. There's a marketplace just ahead, filled with stalls where merchants haggle over prices, selling everything from fresh produce to weapons and enchanted goods. The air is adorned with the scent of spices, cooked meats, and the faint, earthy aroma of damp stone.

Children run through the streets, laughing and playing, their voices echoing in the vast space. A group of them races past us, kicking a ball made of tightly woven leather, while a few mothers, their arms full of shopping baskets, call after them with a mixture of exasperation and affection.

"This place…" Ayame murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's like a medium sized city..."