Suddenly, Kaiden noticed something shining ahead of him.
Everything in this strange inner world glowed in some way. The floor reflected light like polished gold. The walls looked as if they were carved from sunlight itself. Even the air around him seemed to shimmer faintly. But this glow… this one was different. It did not just shine, it pressed against him. It carried weight. Power. Authority.
And without realizing it, he started walking toward it.
He didn't remember making the choice to move. One moment he was standing still, absorbing the palace around him, and the next his feet were carrying him forward like they had a mind of their own. His thoughts slowed, drowned out by a strange pull that wrapped around his chest and dragged him deeper into the light. It wasn't forceful, but it wasn't gentle either. It was more like the way gravity worked. Something ancient and unavoidable.
