Julius sat alone atop a small snow-covered hill, his silhouette outlined faintly by the cold starlight above.
The Divide stretched out below him like a jagged scar across the earth, its fissures glowing faintly with a sickly violet light that made the night itself seem hostile.
The wind was sharp, carrying a dry chill that scraped against his skin, but he did not flinch.
He was only eighteen years old, yet his expression was far from youthful.
His dark eyes looked hollow, emptied of warmth, as if the life had been bled from them long ago.
Tonight was his turn to watch.
For him, that was perfect.
Night watch meant silence, solitude… and no need to plaster on expressions he didn't feel.
It also meant Azel, the newbie, had more time to get used to the group's rhythm without having to take on duties he wasn't ready for.
Julius thought of that briefly, then dismissed it.
