The Bad And The Good [1]

The dimly lit Lord's Hall of Black Star Castle exuded an oppressive aura. Shadows seemed alive, dancing faintly across the blackened stone walls as if whispering secrets of their own. The air was cold and heavy, silence reigning over the room save for the faint crackle of a distant fire.

Three figures stood at the entrance of the hall, heads bowed low. Their postures conveyed respect—if not fear—toward the figure seated on the dark throne at the far end. Cloaked in shadows, the Lord of the Black Star was little more than a silhouette, their features hidden by the ambient gloom. The throne itself seemed part of the darkness, carved from an obsidian-like material that swallowed all light.

After a long, drawn-out silence, the first figure—a woman dressed in a sleek black uniform adorned with silver trims—stepped forward. Her hair was tied tightly back, her sharp features marked with discipline and control.