Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Palace of the Holy City of Aurelion.
The evening sun slowly descended behind the enormous white towers that surrounded the capital. Its madder-red glow shone through the palace windows, casting long shadows across the pristine marble floor,
At the highest level of the palace, however, there was no music or servants rushing around with their idle conversations.
Only the slow footsteps of two people crossing an enormous audience chamber as Albrecht Valerius and Caelith Ignivar walked through the central corridor.
They couldn't understand everything they'd survived or experienced, but that mattered little, for their mission was simple.
Neither spoke.
Clack.
Clack.
Clack.
Caelith's armoured boots created a sharp echo with each step, while the white mantle hanging from her shoulders remained stained along its edges with salt and dried blood.
Albrecht looked considerably cleaner.
