The place was silent except for the echoing footsteps that grew louder with each passing second. Nate's breath caught in his throat as the owner of the thunderous voice finally appeared from the shadows.
It was a middle-aged man, dressed in a flowing black robe that seemed to absorb the light around him. His presence was overwhelming, the sheer force of it pressing against Nate's chest like an invisible weight. The man's eyes glowed faintly, and a dark, menacing energy radiated from him.
The keepers immediately parted, forming a path for the man as he strode forward with measured, deliberate steps. The air around him seemed to shimmer, charged with an unnatural power.
Nate didn't move. He stood his ground, every muscle in his body tense as the man stopped a few feet away. They locked eyes, and for a moment, it felt like the world around them had disappeared.
