The morning arrived without light.
Not really a dawn—more of a hesitation in the sky, a pale breath that slipped over the camp like an unwelcome visitor. Dylan opened his eyes before a horn sounded, before the soldiers even stirred. His body ached in all directions, heavy with an ancient fatigue, but his mind still vibrated with that black shiver lodged in his arm.
Today, Valeria and Marcus were waiting.
Today, he was going to learn.
Or get lost. Time would tell.
He got up, dressed slowly, his head still cluttered with the previous night's conversation with Elisa. Her words echoed in a corner of himself he didn't often explore—the one where hope sits next to fear, idly playing with a sword too large for it.
When he went out, Julius was already waiting for him, leaning against a post. "You look like you slept in a bear's mouth," he grumbled.
"I've known worse."
Julius raised an eyebrow. "You've known Alka, I'll remind you. The bear is a walk in the park."
