Lucas raised his eyes from the floor and met the faint silhouette of the Empress beyond the translucent curtain. The air in the chamber had grown heavy again, thick with the weight of secrets and the echo of her warning. He took a slow breath, his mind working rapidly, his tone calm but edged with a cold firmness when he finally spoke.
"Then tell me, Your Majesty," he said, his voice carrying across the room, quiet but unshaken. "Why should I trust you? You say the world is drowning in darkness and that even your own kingdom has been touched by it. You speak as though you already know what must be done, but I can't help wondering...why should I believe you? And, more importantly, why should you believe me?"
