Muling Castle.
Emperor Mortis sat on the throne, his fingers tapping intermittently on the bone-carved armrest, listening to the report from the person below.
The Empire's Chief Interrogator and Intelligence Officer, Mofulei, respectfully knelt on one knee before the throne, reporting on the aftermath of the disaster:
"...In the end, only Marquis Ravenclaw and his two trusted aides managed to escape the mist. All three suffered severe magic power backlash due to excessive casting in the mist environment, with irreversible signs of tissue mutation and initial symptoms of magic power addiction. They are currently receiving treatment at Silence Tower."
Once the report was completed, the hall fell into a deathly silence, only broken by the rhythmic tapping of the Emperor's fingers, which caused Mofulei's heart to tighten.
After a while, Emperor Mortis ceased his tapping.
