When Lucian woke up, the scent of pine and ash was thick in his lungs. His Echoheart Grimoire pulsed softly, like it could also sense the shift beneath Austmark's calm performance.
Like something ancient was slowly waking up. Not even this town's Harmony Pact could suppress it.
At least, I don't think so. Unless they spent so much time suppressing it before...
And now that we're here, maybe they can't do it any longer?
Lucian thought about it as he ate his breakfast with Alice.
"Do you think that the Harmony Pact was taking their dreams and using it to suppress something else?"
"Maybe. That's something we'll have to find out for ourselves, no?"
"Mmhm. I think we've done better than in Staesis, at least."
Alice laughed. "You mean you didn't act right away?"
Lucian admitted defeat then and raised both hands in mock surrender.
"Yeah. You and Merry helped me learn that waiting a little isn't bad sometimes."
+
