The guards stopped here, letting only Timothy proceeded.
The doors opened slowly at his approach and within it was not merely a study...
It was a sanctuary of intellect and authority.
The ceiling soared high above, supported by tall marble columns. Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling in perfect rows, each filled with ancient texts, awakened research manuscripts, trade logs, and family records dating back generations.
A faint scent of aged paper and polished wood filled the air.
Timothy's footsteps echoed softly as he walked straight down the central aisle.
At the far end, seated behind a massive mahogany desk, was a man whose presence alone altered the atmosphere.
Alessandro Virelli...
Patriarch of the Misty High Branch.
He wore a charcoal suit tailored flawlessly to his lean frame. A silver chain hung from his vest pocket, attached to a polished monocle resting over his left eye. In his right hand, he held a dark wooden cane capped with a serpent-head handle.
