The golden light of midday poured through the arched windows of the study, dust motes dancing lazily in the air as Shellia sat back at her desk. Scrolls, etiquette guides, and ancient law tomes were piled neatly before her. Her delicate hand traced the golden letters embossed on the surface of a leather-bound book titled "Conduct of the Empress."
Her concentration was unwavering, her pen gliding over parchment with elegant precision. Yet, despite her focus, she was not alone. A faint, otherworldly hum lingered in the air — a presence both protective and heavy with suppressed power.
From the shadows near the wall, Daryon Valcrest emerged.
