The dim light flickered uncertainly, and whenever an explosion occurred in the distance, the magic illumination lamps would abruptly brighten and dim.
Richelieu sighed as he signed his name on the document.
The jewel of the world, the ceaselessly bustling Nevernight City, the capital of the age of prosperity, Lutèce. Now, it seemed like a joke, with fire and explosions everywhere, sin and ugliness rampaging through every street. Nowadays in the royal capital, to light a single oil lamp required immense courage, for no one knew what a small point of light in the darkness could attract—whether it would be random gunfire or a mob of rioters.
Even Richelieu, the Kingdom's Prime Minister, covered every window with black cloth before lighting any lamps, to prevent the light from leaking out and attracting unwelcome trouble.