A few days had brought a whirlwind of change to Yalen. The Empyrean's death still echoed in the streets. Whispers of Arthur Netherborne's involvement filled the air, a mix of fear and desperate hope. The Yalen King, rattled and grief-stricken, clung to power, while Lucian, the newly crowned prince, tried to impose order. It was precarious, tense, and suspicion was brewing.
Lucian was increasingly isolated. His advisors clashed, his father watched him warily, and even his oldest friend, Zas, seemed to carry a new burden of doubt. It was this loneliness, as much as his burning ambition, that had drawn him into another uneasy alliance with the outsider, Arthur Netherborne.
Arthur left the palace to return with Zas, visiting the mansion. The two of them were enemies on more than one occasion, but the recent development forced them to be allies. Inside the mansion was an unexpected scene awaiting them.
