Chapter 24: Trojan horse
A lone man is nothing more than a grain of sand in the vastness of the map. He can move like the wind, unpredictable, but in the grand scheme of things, far too insignificant to warrant the slightest interest. It’s only when he gathers that he resembles a stone in the path, one that might be noticed for a fleeting moment, ephemeral. But when the number surpasses ten thousand, it becomes hard not to attract attention, and therefore, difficult to conceal one’s movements.
A city deserted in a few hours without the slightest turbulence is no trivial matter. What caught my attention the most was the reason behind such an action, and I could see only one that made sense: the Calamities had simply finished with this city and were preparing to advance their pieces. I had to understand their objectives, and their movements could offer me a glimpse.
I fixed Victor with a smile.
"Could you tell me which direction they’re heading?"
The rat before me paused for a moment, then resumed its movements.
"As soon as they crossed the city walls, they headed north."
I furrowed my brow.
North... What could be up there? They shouldn’t find anything, unless they hope...
I sprang to my feet and headed for a cabinet, which startled the rat.
When I returned, I threw a map on the table. It was old, worn with the passage of time, but still clear enough to be useful.