However, today's atmosphere had changed.
When Mekefa was invited into the Ice and Snow Hall, he felt the Guards puffing out their chests a bit taller, and the butler leading the way seemed to move with added haste.
It was as though the clouds that had been looming over people's heads for the past few days had suddenly been blown away.
He frowned slightly and cautiously entered the inner sanctum.
The other members of the Royal Guards were already there, along with the priests of the Furnace Cult, Count Francken, and Duke Rosha himself.
Yet, not one of them stood at the main seat.
Mekefa subconsciously looked towards the center of the hall, where atop the three tiers of stone steps stood a blurry figure. The blazing fire basins on either side cast his shadow onto the high wall behind him, making it appear exceptionally towering. Unlike ordinary people, the shadow had two pointed horns atop its head and a pair of bizarre wings unfolded at its side.
