The Sky Hall, once a place of celebration for Dalma victories and noble alliances, now pulsed with uneasy silence. It was grand, gleaming, and suffocating.
Polished obsidian floors reflected the warm flicker of chandeliers. Velvet-draped walls shimmered with gold trim. The guests—nobles, envoys, and ancient family heirs—were dressed in their finest robes and garments. Gem-studded cloaks, enchanted brooches, embroidered silks. But no one smiled. There was no music. No dancing.
Only whispers. Anxious. Frantic.
"What's going on?"
"Is this… a declaration?"
"How is this even possible ?…"
They gathered at the floor-length windows lining the eastern wall.
Outside, chaos ruled the night.
Iskar City and the Dalma mansion burned.
Once-sturdy stone towers crumbled. Firelight flickered from fallen buildings and shattered walls. Streets caved in under invisible pressure, flames licking at the ruins.