Report from the Capital
Pale moonlight emanating from a fractured moon found purchase on dry tree bark, which over the brunt of winter, steadily grew outwards with early developed leaf buds hidden beneath. The branch's shadow cloaked the head of a former Lich, now within the vessel of a fifteen year old boy, who would often sneak out of the Virility manor to secretly cultivate his mana. Doevm relaxed against the trunk as if the lonely shade was a second home to him, a place to sort his thoughts.
His calm, however, was interrupted by a pair of approaching footsteps. 'No one's usually up this late,' he thought. He creaked an eye open and at the base of the hill was Jameson, his well-trained form standing tall under the star-scape.
He had gotten a few more gray hairs since Doevm had seen him last, but his posture, like his light layer of facial hair, never slackened, making it nearly impossible to catch him off guard. His emotionless expression matched Doevm's.