A Gatekeeper's Challenge

I marched out from the stone lantern's sanctuary and pushed further along the garden gravel path toward the boundary of the yard. Right before me stood the tall wrought-iron garden gate, its lower horizontal bar barring the way forward like a fortress barrier. Right beside the iron post, I discovered a fallen metal padlock key buried halfway beneath fallen oak leaves. Using the sturdy spine of my grimoire, I pried the cold iron key loose and dragged it upright against the mossy gatepost. With one boot propped on the key's notched teeth and my grimoire held aloft, I gave the wide street beyond a bold, confident grin—Gridania's bustling avenues are practically within reach!