Night has already taken the southwest plaza, but nobody looks ready to stop.
The attempts have improved over the last few hours. There are still delays, repeated angles, and moments when two of them see the same opening, but the idea is starting to settle into the body. They no longer wait for my voice to know who should take the next answer.
I put Eventide away.
"Keep going if you want. I need to handle something else."
Veric looks at me before I can point at him. "I'll be back soon."
He gets the message. When I return, I want to see the sword he promised.
His nod is short.
I turn to Zhang Xi. "Come with me."
The monk blinks once. "Me?"
"You."
She looks at the plaza, then at me. She doesn't ask here. She only settles the gray hood over her head and follows.
