Kiran looked out the window of the crystal-powered carriage she rode to the Merchant's District with Saia, her attendant named Rueinna, and Paulienne.The vehicle, which reminded her more of Cinderella's carriage without the horses, had a driver at an external seat in front while two guards in casual noble clothes perched on external seats at the back. They drove toward one side of the citadel and crossed a bridge that led to the small island where the Merchant's District was located. The bridge gave Kiran a view of the village across the lake that surrounded the citadel: brick houses and buildings where common folk lived.There were two official routes to the Merchant's District. First was by land, which crossed the citadel. Common folk were generally prohibited from entering the citadel, unless they received special passes from its authorities that allowed them to do so. The passes were often granted to common folk who were under the employment of nobles as attendant