Chapter 72: Arrival of the great families
Several days later.
The rain that had battered the mountains finally stopped.
As if the sky had decided to take a break, the clouds slowly dissipated, giving way to a soft clarity that seemed to wash not only the earth but also the air. Everything looked cleaner. Sharper. More real.
Kiran Mountain, which had been on the verge of collapse due to flooding, began to catch its breath. The fields, once flooded and barren, now breathed under the sun. The water receded little by little, and the farmers were able to return to work the land with calloused hands and modest hopes.
The city also felt relieved. The streets were once again filled with footsteps, shops reopened their doors, and voices returned to the markets, not with joy, but with a sense of normalcy. And in difficult times, normality was a luxury.
The villages that had been destroyed by the wild beasts remained in ruins, but the attack had stopped. The chaos ceased to spread, as if something invisible had drawn a line that the creatures would not cross.
Shortly after Kael brought the captured man to the mansion, a verdict was issued. There were no ceremonies or speeches, just a decision carried out efficiently. His head was displayed in the main square alongside a brief message:
[One of those responsible for the recent deaths. Let this serve as a warning.]
It wasn’t just to inform. It was a way of restoring order. A gesture that showed that the Medici clan was still in control.
Despite this, the wild beasts did not calm down. The mating season had begun, and with it came inevitable changes: increased aggression, erratic behavior, unusual migrations. Even so, the attacks became less frequent. The mountain seemed to be containing its fury.
As the days passed, life began to return.