Lucian woke up before the sun even touched the valley. The faint hum of the furnace echoed softly, its warmth spreading through the clearing.
He rubbed his eyes, stood, and went about his morning routine without hesitation.
The furnace was the first thing he checked. Its light burned steadily, the heat strong enough to maintain the valley's comfortable temperature.
Satisfied, he adjusted the flow of energy into it, making sure the balance would hold for the day.
Next were the predator plants. Lucian crouched by them, watching their vines twitch in the air like restless serpents.
A few blood stains told him they had caught something overnight. He pried the remains free, fed the plants properly, and checked if any of them had been damaged.
It was a routine he could now do with his eyes half-shut, but he never skipped it.
The beasts came last. Some were injured and kept near the boundaries of the valley. Others had been caught wandering too close to their territory.
