บท 196: Time Bane

The bastion's courtyard, dimly lit by the faint glow of torches and the maddening moon, buzzed with quiet murmurs. Bastioneers gathered in uneven clusters, their faces painted with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. The chilling weight of Viviane's earlier revelations still hung heavy in the air.

Standing atop the central platform, one that I just constructed myself—I addressed them, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows across my frame. Every eye was fixed on me—an audience of both the faithful and the fearful. While both Verina and Lupina were watching from the side.

"Listen closely," I began, my voice steady yet carrying an edge that cut through the murmurs. "Tonight, we face something that transcends any Ordeal we've encountered. It's not a foe to be defeated, nor a trial to be endured. This is the Nihil—a phenomenon that unravels the very fabric of Carcosa itself."