The room felt smaller than before, its walls pressing in as Luke paced back and forth. The wooden floor beneath his boots creaked softly with each step, a sound that would have been drowned out in the bustle of Hematheas, but here, in the stillness of the night, it echoed loudly in his ears.
Outside, the world was slipping into darkness. The towering trees of Ashenfen, intertwined with the dense canopy of Hematheas, created an almost impenetrable veil, hastening the arrival of night. The soft, golden glow of lamps dotted the paths and trails, illuminating the castle grounds and the town beyond. The faint flicker of their lights seeped into the room, casting restless shadows on the walls.
