Thousands of years pass.

From afar, a young man watches the palace and leans against an old oak tree. The darkened silhouette his figure creates laughs at them; at himself. His gloved hands caress the bark like the back of an old friend. The castle is tall, white, ephemeral.  It is only a matter of time before they realize, he thinks before he—along with his shadow—disappear out of sight.

We do not see him again in this part of town.