The afternoon sun hung like a bloated orange in the sky, casting long, dramatic shadows over the cobblestone streets of the capital. From the balcony of the Azure Willow Inn, the view was serene, yet my 'High Senses' told a different story. The rhythmic clank of metal-shod boots and the low, collective hum of spiritual pressure signaled the arrival of my "escort."
Two thousand Imperial Guards, clad in gleaming golden plate armor embossed with the Vermilion Bird, had effectively turned the street into a sea of metal. Leading them were six elders from the Hall of Punishment—relics of the Royal Clan who lived for the thrill of exercising authority over the weak. I watched them with a faint, cold smile playing on my lips.
"They’ve arrived," I noted softly. I turned and walked toward the sta
