He stopped instantly. His eyes narrowed, fixed on the small screen. One of the red dots on the map was now pulsing more strongly, almost as if to say: "This is the place."
He took a deep breath, then spoke quietly, "Alright."
His hand reached for the door and pushed it open. The hinges groaned softly, the sound of metal echoing down the corridor, thickening the already tense atmosphere. Alaric stepped inside and gently closed the door behind him.
The moment he entered, he froze.
The room was spacious, far larger than he had expected. The walls were lined with ornate panels carved in fine detail. A chandelier of crystal hung low from the ceiling, casting a warm golden glow that was both inviting and unsettling. At the center of the room, there were no tables or chairs, just a wide expanse of polished black marble floor left completely bare, as if intentionally.
