The grand chamber into which Noirette and Blanchette were unceremoniously thrust was a marvel of arcane architecture, a vast, echoing hall that blended the austerity of a courtroom with the opulent intrigue of an auction house.
The floor beneath their feet was a polished expanse of obsidian marble, veined with glowing threads of enchanted silver that pulsed like living arteries, channeling unseen energies through the room.
At its center rose a circular platform, elevated slightly above the surrounding floor, where the two sisters now stood bound and exposed.
This platform was etched with intricate runes that hummed faintly, forming a containment ward that shimmered with a subtle, iridescent barrier—strong enough to hold even the most elusive of prisoners, yet transparent to allow full view from all angles.
Encircling the platform were tiered balconies, stacked in a spiraling ascent that reached toward a domed ceiling adorned with illusory stars and swirling nebulae.
