By the time we leave the Comet Tail, the Azure Prime night has already swallowed half of plaza number eighteen.
The facade runes glow in discreet shades of gold and blue, reflecting in the suspended channels that cut the pale stone like threads of water trapped in the air. Zhang Xi walks beside me in silence, her gray tunic swaying slightly, the hood resting on her shoulders. After Leona Hartwell, anyone would seem quiet. Zhang Xi, though, seems quiet by choice, not by lack of presence.
I open the communicator before we reach the main street.
"Meeting moved to early tomorrow. Southwest plaza by the Academy. Go together. Oliver, stay at the factory."
Veric's answer comes almost instantly. "You treat the prince of Azure like your subordinate. More than my own father does."
"I'm training to get good at it."
"Bastard…"
Rhayne comes on right after. "Are you okay?"
