Celest listened attentively while the emperor spoke to Van Dijk saying nothing.
Her gaze kept sneaking toward Kaiser.
The descriptions she had heard were incomplete, distorted by rumor, court whispers, and frightened soldiers. The dark mage who had called the Necropolitis to appear before Solania. The one connected to dead walls, undead armies, and the salvation of a city through means the church would rather burn from history. She had imagined someone old, robed, skeletal, perhaps half-rotten beneath a hood.
Instead, he looked like a pale young noble with an arrogant face and one grotesque red finger.
The finger drew her eyes more than once.
Kaiser noticed.
Of course he noticed.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
Celest startled slightly. "Ah… a bit exhausted. But other than that, not sleepy at all."
"Good. The exhaustion is part of recovery. You should be good after having some special water."
