266

: Shadows and Embers

The Underworld's corporate headquarters rose like an imposing monolith, its obsidian walls shimmering with an eerie glow under the ghostly light of the eternal horizon. I hadn't visited the building in months, leaving its operations entirely in Talos's capable hands. Her efficiency and precision were unmatched, and truth be told, I trusted her judgment more than I trusted my own when it came to the intricacies of running an empire as vast as the Underworld's.

As I approached the grand entrance, the automatic gates parted soundlessly, revealing a sleek, polished interior where shadows seemed to dance along the edges of every surface. The air was cool and carried the faint hum of magical wards intertwined with technology—a creation of Talos's genius.

The receptionist, a spectral figure who bowed at my arrival, gestured toward the upper floors. "Miss Talos is in the executive lounge, my lord. She asked to be notified the moment you arrived."