The following days passed in a deliberately fragile calm within the city of Nocture. The black mist that usually shrouded the area remained thick, but the dim morning sunlight began to filter through more often, as if nature itself was granting a little breathing room after the fierce battle at the riverbank. The sounds of city life returned to normal: merchant carts rumbled along the stone streets, the aroma of black bread and smoked meat wafted from small markets, and the footsteps of undead and brave human residents sounded like an undisturbed daily rhythm.
Inside the main castle, the healing process progressed quickly thanks to the natural regeneration possessed by every core resident of Nocture.
