The Valerian Hall loomed ahead, a stark contrast to the chaos consuming the city. The once-vibrant streets beyond were shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by distant flames and the occasional screech of abominations wreaking havoc. But here—at the Hall—there was an unnatural calm, as if the destruction beyond had been held at bay.
A shimmering golden barrier encircled the entire area, pulsating with a soft hum, creating a visible, magical dome that separated the Hall from the world outside.
No abominations, no grotesque weremonkeys, not a single monster dared approach. The creatures, repelled by an unseen force, kept their distance, slinking back into the shadows. It was an eerie, almost sacred tranquility, standing in stark contrast to the ruin spreading through the rest of the city.
But something was wrong.
All the guards—elite, battle-hardened men and women tasked with protecting the influential figures within—lay scattered across the ground.
