The moment my feet touched the polished marble of the palace hall, I extended my perception outward like a wave. Within seconds, the entire palace unfolded in my mind's eye like a three-dimensional sketch, every room and corridor etched into perfect clarity.
It was almost eerie. A palace this large should have been crawling with attendants, guards, servants, cooks, and runners. Yet, there was nothing—no heartbeat, no breath, no nervous whisper echoing down the grand halls.
Nothing but two distinct presences, sharp and oppressive, both radiating the unmistakable pressure of grandmasters.
And both marked, unmistakably, by the Dark Moon.
The emblems were everywhere, from the banners hanging above each hallway to the insignia carved into pillars and etched into glass windows.
I let a slow breath out, weaving Essence through my Resonance, adjusting my resonance until my aura slipped beneath any perception. To them, I was gone. A ripple erased before it could be noticed.
