The manor was a place that didn't need to impress anyone; it simply existed, unapologetically vast and alive in its own silence. The air inside hummed faintly with static, the residue of old divine energy, the kind that made the hairs on the back of Elias's neck stand up. The scent of ozone lingered, familiar and disquieting, and somewhere deep within the walls, gears turned with the force of something ancient.
Victor walked as if he'd never left. Every step was measured, quiet, the gait of someone who belonged here even if he'd rather be anywhere else. His hand brushed the small of Elias's back once, just once, before he moved ahead.
