The explosion illuminated the horizon.
A second sun.
A brief one.
Violent.
Beautiful.
Terrifying.
Far away from the destruction—
Two hooded figures stood atop a ruined structure.
Watching.
Neither spoke for a while.
The shockwave eventually reached them.
Their cloaks fluttered.
One of them chuckled.
The other remained silent.
Then both turned away.
As if the destruction of an entire district was nothing more than another completed task.
And disappeared into the night.
---
Nobody knew where the room was.
Nobody knew how to find it.
Nobody knew if it even existed.
Yet it did.
A massive chamber hidden somewhere beyond maps.
Beyond kingdoms.
Beyond ordinary reach.
A long black table stretched through the center.
Large enough for eight seats.
Most of the seats were occupied.
Three remained empty.
Waiting.
The first person casually sitting near the left side of the table was a slender man with blonde hair reaching his neck.
Colorful formal attire.
Too many necklaces.
Fishnet beneath his suit.
Blue eyes.
Perfectly maintained nails.
Currently filing those nails with extreme concentration.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Across from him sat a tiny girl.
White hair.
Maid outfit.
Fishnet stockings.
Pearl-like skin.
A large scythe leaned against her chair.
She hadn't moved once since entering.
Not a blink.
Not a twitch.
Like a doll waiting for instructions.