The early dawn cast a faint, bluish glow over the defensive walls of the Northern Province. Mikhailis stood beside Elowen and Count Arvis, their silhouettes painted against the dim sky. The breeze was chilly, carrying the scent of distant soil and dew. He adjusted his glasses, squinting at the sight beyond the walls. The horizon was dark and moving—a massive swarm of dog-sized Tanglebeetles scuttling closer, their armored carapaces glistening under the first rays of the sun.
Mikhailis cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the silence.
"So, this is the annual Northern Province monster outbreak, huh? I thought it was going to be a picnic or something." He cracked a small smile, trying to lighten the tension in the air. But his cluelessness about the outbreak is evident.
Elowen let out a soft laugh, her golden eyes glancing at him, filled with warmth.
