The "dawn" in that kingdom didn't come with light.
There was no slow golden light filtering through windows, no shadows stretching under the sun's touch. The sky remained the same—dark, constant, unchanging—as if time there were measured by something other than the natural cycle of the outside world.
Yet… they knew.
There was a subtle change in the air, almost imperceptible to anyone not accustomed to perceiving the environment beyond the obvious. The castle seemed… more active. Distant, muffled by the thick walls, a greater flow of movement began to form. Footsteps. Low voices. Routine.
Time.
Inside the room, the silence was different.
Heavy, but not tense.
The sheets were disheveled, clearly marking that the night had been… anything but peaceful. Exelia remained lying down, partially supported by Kael, her body still relaxed, but her eyes open, already conscious long before any external interruption.
She didn't move when she heard the first signs outside.
