The bells of Lunaris rang in the distance, their toll heavy, almost mournful. Though the sun gleamed high over the palace, the air carried a strange chill — one that made the guards stand a little straighter and the servants whisper behind closed doors. Something was shifting, something unseen yet undeniable.
Inside the council hall, the Dravencian king sat across from the Emperor of Lunaris. The two rulers shared wine, but there was no warmth in their exchange. Their gazes were sharpened steel, testing, measuring.
"You ask me to remain another day," the king said smoothly, his jeweled hand swirling the crimson liquid in his cup. "But I see no celebration here. Only shadows in every corridor, whispers in every corner. Tell me, Emperor… what are you hiding?"
The Emperor's jaw tightened, but his smile was polite. "You see shadows because you look for them, Your Majesty. But I assure you, the empire is as strong as ever. My sons are loyal, my court intact. What is there to hide?"
