Vitium never truly slept.
The city merely changed masks.
By day, merchants shouted from market streets, noble retainers crossed avenues beneath house banners, and caravans from distant settlements entered through the great gates carrying goods from every corner of Black Earth.
By night, another Vitium emerged. A quieter Vitium. A more honest Vitium. The city of whispers. The city of concealed knives. The city where information moved faster than feet. And among all noble houses within the city, none possessed a reputation more deeply entwined with information than House Nightloom.
Its seat occupied an entire elevated district on Vitium's eastern side. Not because it was the largest noble estate. It was not. House Carrion Fang possessed larger military grounds. House Darkridge maintained stronger fortifications. House Oclair controlled greater economic assets.
Yet House Nightloom occupied terrain that every architect in Vitium secretly coveted.
