Time/Date: TC1853.01.20 – Late Evening
Location: Imperial Palace, Throne Room (sealed)
The Guardian Sphinx manifested not as a physical form but as a presence—ancient consciousness pressing against the throne room's reality like weight against silk. The air itself seemed to thicken, carrying the scent of desert sand and time measured in eons rather than years.
When it spoke, the voice resonated from everywhere and nowhere, layered with harmonics that made mortal ears ache:
"The unworthy throne calls. The broken branch reaches. What question does the shadow-buyer bring before truth's keeper?"
Tianrong's jaw clenched so hard something popped. Sixty years, and the Sphinx's first words were reminding everyone present that it considered him illegitimate.
