Simply Effective

Kieran and Alice descended the winding staircase abreast, each moving with a heavy, silent grimness. 

Translating the journal had been an eye-opening experience, giving them glimpses into a mind corrupted by madness and how that defilement led to psychotic impulses, but that didn't compare to the true bombshell they received.

…The Castellan's Catacombs was nested inside the Xesian Empire, which the Aeredale Kingdom was part of; however, the Hidden Dungeon was closer to the Imperial City, whose breadth could rival the expanse of the entire kingdom. There was a reason the Xesian Empire occupied the greatest portion of Nelorias. 

If the Hidden Dungeon was any indication of what to expect, it likely belonged to at least someone of royalty or royalty-adjacent.

"This is going to be a real headache," Kieran muttered darkly. He felt gloomy, which showed in his downcast expression and slouched shoulders.