In the streets of the Guards' Quarters—
A massive man, his body riddled with scars and missing one eye, suddenly felt an unnatural shift coming from the direction of a house several buildings away. "Hmm? What the—"
Before he could finish, a force struck him. He fell to his knees immediately, trying to push himself up, to look around and see who—or what—had caused the attack. "Su—… I—…"
But consciousness abandoned him. His face slammed into the hard stone of the street as darkness closed around him.
And he was not alone.
ThudThudThud
Every guard inside the quarters felt it at the same moment: an unbearable, oppressive weight that pressed down on their bodies and minds. Darkness filled their vision instantly. Some collapsed in the streets, others fell during training exercises, some even while preparing meals. Even the two gate guards were thrown to the ground. Panic rippled silently through the air.
It was as if the very atmosphere had been crushed by an invisible hand.
