The path to the audience chamber took them through parts of the palace Lumi hadn't seen before.
Even in his past life, by the time he stepped into Herene with enough status to enter the palace, it was completely different and more wartorn.
As they moved, there were grand corridors painted with scenes from Herene's history. Some of the windows looked out over the floating island's edge, showing clouds far below. Many decorative objects held magical lights that shifted color based on some pattern Lumi couldn't quite determine.
As they approached massive double doors carved with the imperial seal of the Aria Knights, Lumi felt the weight of the moment settling on his shoulders. This wasn't just a formal recognition. This was the beginning of something larger. The Empress would remember them after today.
Empress Aria.
The group that captured Afton. As of today, Empress Aria would have some recognition of them.
