Crackle... Crackle...
The glowing coals burst within the furnace, accompanied by the rhythmic snores of the Night Watcher. The temperature, hovering steadily around 500 degrees, made the furnace appear particularly tranquil—so much so that even the Night Watcher felt that nothing was out of the ordinary.
Half a year. The Dragon Egg had been incubating for a full six months without showing any sign of hatching. The Night Watcher's slackened vigilance was understandable, especially given the recent shortage of manpower. Black tides had erupted worldwide, forcing the Church and the Kingdom Army to sprint tirelessly between cities. Rumor had it that even the Pope hadn't had much rest for quite a while...
