A cold mist greeted Sylvia as she stepped beyond the castle's main gate. The creak of aged iron echoed as the massive gate slowly closed behind her, its dull reverberations swallowed by the fog. Her cloak fluttered gently in the wind, carrying the scent of damp earth, ancient stone, and the lingering magic that permeated this world. No sunlight pierced the sky, only a pale, ashen glow that made everything seem like a faded painting.
In the distance, the zombie guards bowed silently as she passed. No words were needed. A single glance from their queen was enough for them to understand everything. Sylvia paused briefly, letting the silence serve as her brief farewell.
Her steps were light yet resolute. The path before the castle was still lined with neatly arranged stones from ancient times, though many were now cracked or sunken into the earth. The mist slithered across the ground like a living thing, curling around her feet before retreating as she walked onward.
