Florian really didn't know what to expect.
Especially when it came to Heinz. Unpredictable, unreadable Heinz Obsidian.
At first, he was merely curious.
'What could Heinz possibly consider a "gift"?'
The thought lingered, circling in his mind as they walked. He couldn't deny the flicker of anticipation curling in his chest, even if it was tangled with confusion over why Heinz seemed to treat tomorrow as though it were Florian's real birthday.
But soon that curiosity soured into unease.
Because Heinz wasn't leading him through any familiar wing of the palace. Instead, they descended into one of the most secluded parts of the kingdom—a place Florian was certain no servant would dare wander.
The silence here was different. Heavy.
The corridors grew darker, narrower. Shadows clung to the walls. The torches were fewer, the air cooler, tinged with the faint scent of stone and metal.
Almost… eerie.
