Boren stepped fully into the study, letting the heavy door close behind him with a soft thud that felt like it sealed him inside more than just a room.
The space was exactly as he remembered: vast and imposing, designed for endurance rather than comfort. Towering bookshelves loomed like walls of knowledge and authority, filled with ledgers chronicling decades of trade, warfare, and political maneuvering.
Ancient scrolls rested in crystal tubes that glimmered faintly under the subdued glow of the mana-crystal chandelier above. The light illuminated the room without warming it, casting sharp shadows that made every edge appear more defined.
At the far end stood an enormous desk carved from ancient heartwood, its surface etched with faint sigils that pulsed almost imperceptibly, symbols of command and lineage.
Behind it sat Lord Belmont Stonehelm, Patriarch of the Stonehelm House, framed by a high-backed chair that resembled a throne more than mere furniture.
