Back in the heart of Lechia's capital, the once-proud palace stood half-ruined. The storm of the Empress's power had scarred marble, shattered pillars, and left the air thick with the scent of ash and burnt stone. The grand hall, where Ken now stood, had become a command post filled with soldiers and envoys awaiting his word.
A captain knelt before him, his armor scuffed and his breathing heavy from haste. "Lord Ken, we have scoured the entire lower district and the eastern quarters," he reported, voice trembling slightly under Ken's cold gaze. "There is no trace of Her Majesty or her followers. The city gates remain sealed, but... she's gone."
Ken's jaw tightened. He rose from the ornate chair, his crimson cloak brushing against the cracked tiles as he paced slowly to the shattered window. From there, the capital stretched out before him. He closed his eyes for a moment, extending his senses. The air around him shimmered faintly as he tried to detect what his eyes could not see.
