When dawn broke, soft beams of sunlight spilled over the hills, brushing the camp with warmth. The mist thinned slowly as birds began to call from the trees. One by one, the group stirred awake. The Valerion guards packed their gear with quiet efficiency, the loyalists helped extinguish the remnants of the fire, and the empress stood near the fountain, her face calm but purposeful. Lucas still lay in his makeshift carrier, his breathing even, his complexion better than before. The Ice Belle clung to his cloak as though guarding him from the waking world.
Captain Varran gave a sharp nod once everyone was ready. "We move now," he said, his voice steady and resolute. "Valerion awaits."
The empress turned to the others. "Let us not delay. Every moment we linger gives the usurpers more time to spread their reach."
