Under the pale illumination of the moon and the flickering orange light of the fire torches, the cadets of the Cradle began their trek toward the limestone cliffs and the inner districts of the city.
Princess Aurora and her scouts took the lead, guiding the weary group toward a zigzagging stone-paved path that had been carved directly into the face of the cliff.
Despite being utterly exhausted, the joy of finally being so close to leaving this realm overrode their fatigue.
They reached the top of the cliff and continued past the city limits. To Cedric, the territory still resembled the marble heart of Ancient Greece, though it was a hollowed-out version of the place he remembered. Rather than the vibrant city from his time playing the game, the entire district now looked like a quiet graveyard. The air was stagnant, reeking of death and the slow crawl of decay.
