"That isn't a question I can answer," the voice said coldly. "It would break the rules."
Van Dijk stiffened. Rules? He didn't know if this was a bluff or some cosmic law binding this entity, but the cryptic response left him no choice. He needed to ask wisely. "Ask again," the voice commanded.
Van Dijk's thoughts churned as he sought clarity, but the Black Tower groaned ominously, the very walls trembling as if some colossal weight bore down upon its foundations. His domain, his sanctuary, was under assault, not by any physical force, but by a power so profound it seeped into the fabric of reality itself.
Van Dijk's gaze flickered to Ludwig—or rather, the being inhabiting his student's body. The boy's expression remained eerily calm despite the tremors, a stillness that sent a chill down the Tower Master's spine.
"What's causing this disturbance?" Van Dijk demanded.
