Vlad left the hotel behind, his black coat catching the soft winter breeze as he navigated through the streets of Skyreach's upper levels.
Pedestrians moved in streams around him, some dressed in tailored suits, others in the gray-blue of guild-issued armor or administration cloaks.
Even among the well-dressed crowd, Vlad stood out. The dark, fur-clad cloak, the armor hidden beneath, and the air of contained gravity were enough to draw eyes, and when virulent mist emanated from him, it only drew more attention.
At first, it was shapeless, like smoke from a dying fire, but then, in a blink, it folded into a small form, a winged silhouette with glassy limbs and glinting eyes.
A moment later, Vel manifested fully, staying afloat with uncanny weightlessness atop Vlad's shoulder.
Gasps broke the quiet of the walkways.
A few people halted outright, while others slowed, turning their heads, as murmurs rippled through the flow of foot traffic.
"A spirit?"
"King-grade?"
