[Eastern Zahryssar — Imperial Command Tent — Shortly After]
The imperial command tent had become unbearably quiet, not peaceful but heavy. The kind of silence born after trust had been wounded.
Outside the tent the sounds of chains quietly echoed, not loud, not cruel and yet somehow those soft metallic sounds followed Levin into the command tent like ghosts.
Because he knew exactly who they belonged to. Meanwhile, inside the tent, Zeramet stood over the central table, studying the maps of Sah'qir with terrifying focus, cold and controlled as though nothing emotional had happened moments earlier.
Nearby Raevhan and Varesh remained silent while reviewing defensive positions around the hidden cave.
Even they understood now: something ancient was moving beneath the desert.
Levin entered quietly afterward and for one brief moment Zeramet's golden eyes lifted toward him instinctively softening.
Only slightly.
