The transition from the scorching, abrasive winds of the Tagor Desert to the cool, incense-scented air of Alaric's inner sanctum was jarring, a physical shock to the system that mirrored the upheaval in Cai Wei's soul. The heavy stone door of the cave dwelling slid shut with a finalized boom, sealing out the sun, the sand, and the last remnants of her reign as a Queen. Inside, the lighting was dim and ambient, provided by floating mana crystals that cast a soft, golden glow against the smooth rock walls.
Cai Wei stood in the center of the antechamber, her breathing ragged, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs. She was a Martial King, a ruler of the desert, a woman who had faced beast tides and assassins without blinking. But now, standing before the man who had effortlessly dismantled her pride and kidnapped her daughter, she felt smaller than a grain of sand.
