The night outside Amestris City was alive with murmurs and light. Even now, long after sunset, countless people lingered beyond the city walls, their gazes drawn toward the massive rock tortoise resting in the distance.
The creature's shell gleamed under the faint moonlight, dotted with soft golden radiance — the light of the Star Tea Tree. The ancient tree stood proudly upon the beast's back, its leaves shimmering like starlight drifting through the dark. Occasionally, faint motes of golden dust — almost like fireflies — floated through the air, illuminating the night with an ethereal glow.
Hidden in the shadow of a lonely alley, a figure in a dark robe watched quietly.
Nijisha pulled her hood lower, her sapphire eyes reflecting the starlight above. She'd been waiting here for what felt like hours — waiting for Yanlu. During the day, there had been too many eyes watching, too many risks. Acting openly was impossible.
