Several hours later, the palace side gates opened before releasing one exhausted figure onto the quiet street.
Hajin stumbled beneath mana lamps while the dark sky offered no hint that morning planned to rescue him soon.
The palace conversation had aged his posture through several imaginary decades, leaving both shoulders bent beneath Gate dirt plus dried blood.
Small footsteps pattered behind him before the side gate finished closing.
Didi had followed him despite the late hour, still wearing the borrowed robe over her shoulders.
She squeezed his hand once, ordered him to sleep before visiting anybody, then fled the duty guard.
The gate guard found the sky extremely interesting while Hajin's tired face tried to stop smiling.
From the gatehouse, Elina pointed once at the tonic bottle in his pocket before the door shut.
"I am free," he said as a breathless laugh escaped him. "The royal interrogation ended without requiring another resurrection inside the palace tonight."
