Vlad stood near the edge of a quiet river, its clear waters flowing gently over smooth stones as creatures moved freely through the surrounding forest. None of them noticed him. None of them could perceive his presence.
He remained there, hidden from the world, standing within this fragile pocket of peace and doing his best to steady his heart.
It had been three days since the fall of Valhalla.
Three days since the Alien Forces had finally set foot in the universe.
His physical wounds had long since healed, regenerated by his overwhelming vitality and the power of his Depravita Constitution. Yet his mind remained deeply unsettled. No amount of rest or isolation could erase the memories of that battle, nor the crushing realization that followed it.
