Nikolai then turns his attention back to the man and takes a step closer, his presence commanding and intimidating. His eyes bore into the cloaked figure, and with a swift, decisive motion, he removes the hood.
The man's dark-toned skin and a prominent scar that runs diagonally across his face are revealed to the gasping audience.
"Why were you practicing magic?" Nikolai demands, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. The man remains silent, his expression unreadable, his eyes fixed on a point beyond Nikolai.
Nikolai's patience wears thin, and he asks again, his voice growing louder and more menacing.
The intensity in his tone makes everyone flinch, the raw power of his anger palpable. He unsheathes his sword, the sound of metal against leather sharp and clear in the hushed room.
The blade gleams in the light as he points it at the man, trying to intimidate him into speaking.