Lucen
The night sky above the High Elf palace never truly darkens. Luminous crystals hang suspended in the air like stars that have wandered too close, illuminating every corner of the gardens and rooftops without mercy. There's no place to hide. But I've grown used to sneaking through places far crueler than this.
I move quickly and silently. My dark clothing blends into the shadows. My breathing is steady. My mind is focused. One goal: find something. Anything. A clue, a whispered plan, even a small lie I could twist into a weapon for tomorrow's negotiations.
The eastern corridor has a small ventilation shaft that connects to the inner chambers of the palace. The intel Rae gave me about this vent has proven incredibly useful.
I crawl through the shaft, inching forward past layers of dust still as buried secrets. Below me, rooms open one by one—an advisor's office, a document storage room, a small meeting hall... and then, I hear voices.
