The morning was still.
There was a soft peace upon everything as the sky soon turned peaceful early azure. Lying below, the city was peaceful like it was always asleep, not disturbed and still with the mountain shielding it.
Lucian awoke first. He rolled himself out, and was careful not to wake up the peaceful sleep of the Serakha beside him. Her hand rested beside his chest. His glance rested on her with gratitude and as he turned to gaze on the valley. He was caught breathless again upon the scene.
The silver leaves of the trees hardly fluttered, as if the forest was breathing slowly. Time seemed to have left no trace on the city that lay under them. No broken roofs. No fallen stones. In the very centre of the valley there was a massive building of the form of an open volume, its walls encrimsoned in the palely dancing spiral glyphs.
response
"To go down, it's time," Lucian said conspiratorially.
