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The punishment ground stretched out like a somber courtyard, its wide, open space surrounded by high stone walls that seemed to echo every sound.
The roof was non-existent, and it left the gathering exposed to the dim evening sky. Faint streaks of orange and purple painted the horizon, casting long, jagged shadows across the uneven floor. Torch lined the walls, and their flickering flames struggled to hold back the creeping darkness. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, blood and impending death, adding to the grim weight that hung over the assembled crowd.
In the center of the dismal setting, two gaolers held the blindfolded boy upright, his frail body sagging between them, while the executioner stood ready, gripping a gleaming dagger in his hand.
