When Aldric Goldfeather finally spoke, his words didn't thunder or echo; they fell softly yet carried a weight that froze the entire second floor of the Adventurer Guild in an instant.
For several heartbeats, silence reigned. It was so profound it felt almost violent, as if sound itself had been sucked from the air.
From below, faint sounds drifted up, laughter, footsteps, chairs scraping, and the distant murmur of arguments. These ordinary noises only served to emphasize how heavy and still the lounge had become.
Gregor stood rigid beside the table, his usual relaxed demeanor vanished. His green eyes were wide with shock as his breathing quickened.
Valeria, typically composed and unflappable, went utterly still. Her spine straightened imperceptibly as her hand instinctively moved closer to her weapon's hilt.
