The morning breeze brought the faint scent of roasting chestnuts into the western compound.
Kaelen shifted in his hammock, resting his cheek against the coarse canvas. Through the half-open gate, the dusty canyon road was quiet.
Old Barnaby had departed at dawn, riding the compound’s stubborn brown mule north toward the canyon turnpike. The old keeper had taken an empty wicker basket to meet Deacon Vane’s incoming carriage and collect three jars of refined cinnabar array ink.
Kaelen took a sip of cool pear tea from the bamboo cup beside his elbow.
Barnaby has been gone for four hours, Kaelen thought, feeling the gentle sway of the ropes. If he stopped at the tavern to argue about dried persimmons again, my array ink will smell like sour wine.
He closed his eyes and summoned the translucent grey slate.
[The Fallow Slate: Stage 2 (Tri-Track Split)] [Track 1: Cultivation Vessel -> 24h 00m / 720h (25x Active)] [Track 2: Martial Combat -> 186h 00m / 720h (187x Active)] [Track 3: Alchemy & Comprehension -> 139h 00m / 720h (140x Active)]
Twelve more hours of pure, uninterrupted laziness had rolled into his account.
