章 106: Shadows.

Aric followed behind the viscount, his eyes scanning the ruined halls. Dust filled the air, catching the faint beams of moonlight that slipped through broken windows.

The place had once been grand—its cracked walls and faded artworks were proof of that—but now, it stood abandoned, a shell of its former self.

Yet, despite its decay, there was movement. People, their faces shadowed, walked quietly through the corridors. Whispered voices and the shuffle of feet echoed through the vast space.

This manor, the home of House Draylen, now served as the base of operations for the Ashen Covenant. A forgotten ruin, housing the kind of power that didn't need to be seen to be felt.

"This place," Kael said, his voice low as they walked deeper into the hall, "was once the heart of my family's power. We ruled from here—planned, negotiated, fought for our place in the empire." His lips twisted in a bitter smile.