Leaves fell and drifted in the air as the sun's rays intensified. The branches of the trees at the front of the Blackscale Citadel threw long shadows on the ground as the sun shone on them.
Soldiers leaned against the trees, taking shelter when Leon came to pass. Some smiled at him; others made themselves busy as if Leon would scold them for standing there lazily.
He caught all their reactions, then asked himself without stopping, 'I'm just me. Why are they behaving strangely after returning from Thule?'
The question felt alien to him when he neared the Madhouse door.
Inside, Liu Yan stood by the window, arms folded on her chest, gazing at the beautiful sequence the new soldiers were displaying in the sun.
"Wow. That guy might be very good," she whispered more to herself, fixing her gaze on one guy who had his hair braided.
