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Ardyn's chambers in the grand city of Mithra mirrored his magnificence. Rich tapestries lined the walls, and enchanted crystals glowed softly, casting the room in golden light. He lounged on a velvet chaise, sipping a rare elven wine. The echoes of the crowd's cheers still rang in his mind, fueling his self-satisfaction.
Elyra entered the room quietly, her expression serene but firm. "You were reckless today," she said, her tone a mix of admiration and reproach. "That warrior could have landed a fatal blow if you had misstepped."
Ardyn chuckled, swirling his wine. "Misstep? Elyra, I am Ardyn. Mana itself bends to my will. A fatal blow from that brute was as likely as the moons falling from the sky."
She frowned, her sapphire eyes narrowing. "Pride blinds even the most skilled, Ardyn. You would do well to remember that."
He waved her off dismissively, his focus shifting to the evening's revelries. Nobles and adventurers had gathered in his honor, eager to toast his latest triumph. Elyra sighed, her frustration evident, but she said no more and departed.
As the celebration began, Ardyn basked in the flattery of his peers and the coy smiles of courtesans. His fiancée's warnings faded into the background, drowned by the music and laughter. Among the revelers was a woman with emerald eyes and an enigmatic smile—a courtesan who seemed to draw his attention more than the others. She leaned closer, her voice a silken whisper. "Tell me, oh great swordsman, is there anything you desire that you do not already have?"
Ardyn smirked. "Nothing beyond the thrill of battle, my dear."
But as the night wore on, the woman's behavior grew peculiar. Her touches lingered, and her laughter carried a strange edge. Something about her was unsettling, though Ardyn, in his arrogance, dismissed it as mere nerves from being in his presence.
Later, as the feast dwindled, the woman led Ardyn to a private chamber, promising to show him something "unforgettable." The room was dimly lit, and the air felt heavy. Before he could react, several figures emerged from the shadows, their faces obscured by dark hoods.
The woman stepped back, her smile twisting into something sinister. "Greatness breeds envy," she hissed, her voice laced with malice. "And your greatness ends tonight."
Ardyn reached for his sword, but his limbs felt sluggish. He realized too late that the wine he drank had been tampered with. A cold, unnatural energy began to coil around him as one of the hooded figures began chanting in an ancient, guttural tongue.
The air erupted with dark energy, and Ardyn's world plunged into chaos.
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