For a fraction of a second, something unfamiliar flickered beneath the smoothness of his processing.
Concern.
He closed his eyes briefly and extended a connection through the system tether bound to Kiara's soul.
"Master is not in danger."
The conclusion returned clean.
He exhaled softly and descended the stairs once more. Without waiting for instruction, he opened the store.
The wooden sign swung gently in the morning breeze.
Nexus resumed business.
*
Duchy of Drake, Eastern Phoenix;
The sun climbed reluctantly above the horizon, pale and strained through a thin veil of dust.
More than half the spirit warriors looked as though they had wrestled nightmares instead of sleeping. Dark stars shadowed their eyes. Armor straps creaked as they adjusted gear stiff from tension rather than wear.
Some had already deserted during the night.
At one section of the encampment, however, activity hummed with controlled vigor.
