The room lay shrouded in shadow, the curtains drawn tight against the windows, blocking even the faintest hint of daylight. Heavy silence filled the air, broken only by the soft, rhythmic ticking of a clock hidden somewhere in the darkness. Near the center of the room, an imposing figure sat in a high-backed chair before a polished mahogany desk.
The man was striking, with sharp features carved as if from stone, and a proud, well-groomed beard that added an air of both refinement and authority. His hair, silvered and sleek, seemed to glint in the dim light, accentuating the sternness in his gaze.
Dressed in dark, elaborate robes adorned with intricate metallic designs, he wore a sash over one shoulder—a mark of distinction that only heightened his dignified presence. In front of him on the desk sat a crystal orb, though, unlike most mystical artefacts, this one held no light. It was pitch black, absorbing every hint of radiance from the room.
