The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the clearing where a dark, twisted tree stood at the heart of a giant forest. Its thick branches seemed to claw at the sky, gnarled roots gripping the earth like a monstrous talon. Against its massive trunk, four figures were bound by windy ropes.
The three princes, dressed in black-and-white robes, bore the same regal features—sharp cheekbones, snow-white hair, and princely ornaments that gleamed even in their captivity. Their royal bearing was unmistakable, yet each wore a different expression.
Then, there was the Imperial Advisor, a black-haired man whose face was lined with years of wisdom, who tried to keep his expression neutral but miserably failed as his eyes flickered with fear. His black-white robe also matched that of the princes in bearing, but it lacked status.
