156: New world

Alora’s POV

We moved forward, our steps echoing faintly as we passed through the grand hallways. Each step brought us closer to whatever lay at the heart of this strange palace, but it was impossible to ignore the oppressive weight in the air.

Rune’s grip on my hand was tight, and I could feel the pulse of his heartbeat in sync with my own. We are both afraid and exhilarated by everything we were seeing.

Then, we entered another chamber, dimly lit and lined with marble columns that cast long, dark shadows over the room. In the center stood a throne, similar to the last, but this one seemed more worn, the edges dulled and almost faded.

On it sat a figure, shrouded in a heavy, dark cloak that closed any distinguishing features. It was as though the very light in the room avoided this person, casting their form in an impenetrable shadow. I shivered in displeasure.

Surrounding the throne was a crowd of people, each one thinner than the next. They were skeletal, skin stretche