The massive doors groaned open, their echo stretching endlessly into the vast expanse. A woman stepped forward, her movements deliberate and unhurried. She wore a long black cape, its edges frayed, and her hood partially obscured a face marked with unyielding resolve.
The chamber itself was imposing, its walls a deep, foreboding gray. Elevated platforms lined either side, each occupied by hooded figures. Their faces were concealed behind intricate masks of gold, silver, or intricately carved wood, each fashioned into the likeness of an animal or emblem.
At the center of the room, where the marble floor bore a single engraved circle, the woman came to a halt. She stood tall, hands clasped before her.
A voice broke the silence, deep and resonant, as though it emanated from the very walls.
"Speak."
The woman inclined her head slightly, a gesture of respect, but her piercing gaze remained fixed ahead.
