Ahcehera had just left the grand halls of the Interstellar Council, her mind still replaying the intense debates over resource allocation and war strategy. The echo of bureaucratic voices clung to her thoughts, weighing her down. As the security convoy trailed a respectful distance behind her, she signaled them to pause and took a detour into the open market of Sector Virellis.
It was rare for someone of her status to wander through a place like this, but today, something about the scents of freshly ground spices and the hum of civilians living their ordinary lives pulled her in. For a moment, she was just a woman among vendors, not a battle-hardened commander nor the daughter of a king.
She purchased herbs, dried fruit, and a few fresh cuts of alien meat, ingredients she didn't need but wanted simply because they reminded her of simpler days. As she moved through the rows of stalls, a commotion near a metal crate caught her attention.
