[Unknown Location.]
Tens of thousands of kilometers from the city, in the depths of a dark, eerie forest where the trees grew twisted and the leaves were permanently wilted, a small town sat on the black soil. It was a place untouched by the sun. At the center of the town, a formidable black castle stood, its spires piercing the gloom.
_
[Dark Hall.]
Inside the castle lay a hall enveloped by nothing but darkness, only illuminated by the flickering, spectral light of torches on the wall. A massive round table stood in the middle with ten high-backed chairs placed around it.
WHOOSH!
Lights moved from all directions, coalescing into solid forms on each chair, leaving four chairs empty.
"Why are we called?"
The same black smoke that had been in City X flew through the high window, swirling down to the table where it formed the man. He arranged his cloak, smoothing out the fabric, and sat down on the chair with the number four on it.
