The morning light streamed through the grand windows of the imperial castle, casting long beams across the pristine marble floors and the gilded edges of the corridor walls. Alex, freshly out of the bath and draped in normal-looking clothes, stepped out of his room. The intricate gold and silver wired patterns etched into the walls gleamed faintly in the light, giving the passage an air of regality.
Servants scattered about, their movements graceful but hurried as they prepared for the day's monumental events. Yet, as Alex walked past, the bustling came to an abrupt halt. Heads turned; whispers followed him.
"That's him..."
"Did you see his eyes? So sharp, so determined."
"He truly is the future of the human race."
Alex heard them, knowing full well that his image was quite good for someone who hadn't been to the imperial city much. It was as if someone had been manipulating things from the background.