The brass kettle on the charcoal brazier gave off a low, gentle hiss.
Kaelen Vance sat on the edge of his low bed, rolling his shoulders with a slow, leisurely yawn. The autumn midnight air was pleasantly cool, filtering through the oiled paper screens of his inner chamber.
He had not woken because of an assassin or an alarm bell. He had simply woken because his throat felt dry and he fancied a fresh cup of chamomile tea.
A sensible man took his midnight tea seriously. Rushing out of bed caused dizziness, and ignoring thirst led to bad dreams about tax collectors.
He slipped his feet into a pair of soft felt slippers and tied his grey linen robe loosely at the waist.
Inside his quiet mind, the ancient surface of the Fallow Slate hovered in serene perfection.
[The Fallow Slate] [TRACK 3: ALCHEMY & COMPREHENSION: 240 HOURS 00 MINUTES] [MILESTONE SEALED: ACTIVE MULTIPLIER 241x READY] [TRACK 4: DRAGON-VEIN & FORTRESS ARRAY COMPREHENSION] [ACCUMULATED FALLOW TIME: 1,545 HOURS 00 MINUTES] [ACTIVE FALLOW MULTIPLIER: 15,460x (1-Month Lunar Fallow Surge)] [True Fallow State: Undisturbed - Accumulating]
One thousand five hundred and forty-five hours on Track 4.
