Dawn hung silently over the Empire.
From atop the castle's highest tower, the world seemed distant, almost unreal, as if all the grandeur of the walls, streets, and lights scattered throughout the capital were merely a carefully constructed stage set to be observed from afar. The wind blew steadily at that height, cold enough to pierce fabrics and touch the skin easily, carrying with it the scent of the sleeping city and distant echoes of a life that never truly ceased.
Kael stood on the edge of the tower.
His arms crossed, his body relaxed, but his eyes alert as he observed the vast territory below him. Small points of light were still lit across the city, isolated windows where someone remained awake, guards patrolling the walls, taverns resisting sleep. Everything seemed calm.
But he knew it wasn't.
He let out a small sigh, shifting his gaze to the dark horizon where the sky met the earth in an indistinct blur.
"Vampire incidents are increasing."
