An old man was sitting in a chair.
His body was thin and frail, almost like a dried-up corpse. His skin was pale, faintly gray, and clung tightly to his bones. Deep wrinkles covered his face, and his white hair hung loosely over his shoulders. His entire appearance was dull and lifeless.
His eyes were closed, and he didn't seem to be breathing. It was hard to tell if he was alive or dead. The only thing that showed a faint sign of life was the weak rise and fall of his chest, so slow that one could miss it if they didn't look carefully.
When Alex and Serena stepped inside, the silence of the hut was broken.
The old man's body trembled slightly, ever so faintly, as if he had been disturbed from a deep sleep.
Alex and Serena exchanged glances. Both of them could feel that this place was unusual. It didn't match the rest of the palace at all. The difference between the rest of the palace and this hut was simply too huge.
