Back in his room, Julian chuckled. "Humans really are interesting creatures," he muttered to himself. He chuckled again, shaking his head, "Look at me, talking like I'm not one of them."
He stood and walked toward a mannequin where his robe was hung. With a dramatic motion, he grabbed it and draped it over his shoulders. The robe fluttered momentarily before flowing smoothly behind him.
With a faint smile, Julian left the room, the door creaking shut behind him. The stone hallway stretched out before him, quiet in the early morning hours. As he walked, his gaze fell on four knights kneeling in the hallway ahead.
"Stand," Julian ordered, his voice calm but commanding. At once, the four soldiers rose, their movements perfectly synchronized.
Julian didn't need to look back as he continued walking forward, confident that they would follow him without question. Without hesitation, the four knights walked behind him, their armors clanking in the empty corridor.
