Morning came with the uncomfortable reality of Hunter Association occupation, their thousand soldiers camped on settlement perimeter with professional discipline that made their presence feel permanent despite claims of temporary protection. Luthra stood on damaged eastern wall watching Association patrols, recognizing territorial claim when he saw one.
'They're not here to protect us, they're here to claim us. Different method, same goal as Syndicate.'
Khorvash woke three hours after dawn, the dragonkin's recovery from white fire transformation defying medical predictions but confirming her ridiculous durability, healers said she should've been dead or comatose for weeks but she was conscious and trying to sit up despite catastrophic mana exhaustion.
"Lay down," Luthra said when he visited medical tent, "you burned your life force, recovery requires actual rest not stubborn refusal to acknowledge limits."
