Razeal stood high atop an tall tree, its branches creaking faintly beneath his weight. His eyes locked on the sight before him, sharp and calculating.
Far in the distance, a massive structure loomed a circular fortress of pale stone and towering pillars that pierced the sky. The architecture radiated solemnity, a place built not just for function, but for awe. At its heart, a portal shimmered, a crackling whirl of unstable blue light that flickered and hissed with violent sparks. It wasn't the calm flow of a low-ranked gate. No, this was a living storm, raging in silence.
The structure almost resembled a temple, regal and intimidating. Crimson carpets stretched out from the portal's base like a royal pathway, bordered on each side by thick silver chains engraved with runes. Decorative, yes but also practical, each chain humming faintly with restraining magic. It was meant to remind onlookers that this was no ordinary gate. It was an empire-owned passage, heavily controlled.
