The Sea Dragon Empress was taken back to the Duke's Palace where she was kept in a heavily guarded cell.
In the cell, there was no window, and the walls were made of thick, cold stone that seemed to absorb any unfamiliar essence that touched it.
Heavy iron bars reinforced the door, which was locked with a mechanism so intricate that only the Duke held the key.
The cell was dimly lit by a single torch flickering in the corridor outside, casting long shadows. The floor was uneven and cold.
A small wooden bench, worn and splintered, was the only furniture in the room. Despite its simplicity, the cell was designed with one purpose. It was to make it impossible for anyone to escape.
Every detail, from the reinforced ceiling to the hidden traps were made with perfection in mind.
Even the guards outside the cell were chosen for their loyalty and strength. The cell was, in every sense, a fortress within a fortress.
