Compared to the chaos brewing outside the castle walls, the interior of the royal Eldros stronghold exuded an eerie and unsettling calm—like the eye of a hurricane.
Guards clad in polished, ornamental armor stood at attention, their spines as rigid as spears, eyes blank behind visors that gleamed under the soft glow of enchanted chandeliers. They were like statues—beautiful but empty, their stillness mocking the turmoil beyond the walls.
Within the grand halls, ministers and courtiers wandered freely, dressed in layers of silk and jewels that caught the flickering firelight. Their laughter rang through the gilded corridors, echoing off marble columns and stained glass murals. Goblets filled with rich, spiced wine clinked in celebratory toasts. Murmurs of gossip and indulgent banter passed from one smiling face to the next, as if the capital wasn't on the verge of annihilation.
