Under Attack

The ballroom hummed with the elegance of the evening. Laughter, music, and the soft clinking of glasses filled the air as nobles danced beneath the glittering chandeliers. It was a night meant for celebration, where whispers of politics and alliances were drowned by the orchestra’s melody.

Then, without warning, the grand doors burst open, crashing against the walls. A violent gust of wind surged into the room, extinguishing the chandeliers in a single breath and plunging the space into a dim, eerie glow. Gasps and startled cries filled the silence that followed, the orchestra’s music silenced mid-note.

The intruder stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate. He was clad in a ragged black cloak, his face hidden beneath the shadow of his hood. The only sign of life came from the faint glimmer of emerald eyes, flickering like cold fire.