Didi stopped beneath the genealogical tree as fourteen preservation lamps guttered together, drawing her attention to the statues along the vaulted gallery.
Fourteen robed statues stood inside alcoves, holding sculpted instruments that witnessed centuries of silent archival study.
Slender beams of radiant illumination ignited behind the carved eyes at the exact same heartbeat across all fourteen figures.
Luminous silhouettes separated from the masonry without fracturing the surrounding stonework, stepping onto the flagstones in eerie unison.
The original statues remained completely motionless within their niches, their fingers still resting upon their carved compasses.
[ CringeSlayer91: "They were literal surveillance cameras masquerading as ancient decorative statues this entire time!" ]
[ ShadowMage44: "The palace security system just activated, and those constructs are moving with terrifying coordination!" ]
