The Faust estate came into view and Mariabell exhaled.
"Finally," she said. "It's been long but...finally home."
Victor glanced at her. Then quietly reached over and took her hand.
She looked down at it. Laced her fingers through his. Said nothing.
...
I felt the presence before we even reached the gate.
Not the crushing weight from the first time.....that greeting that had nearly put me on one knee in his own hallway. This was different. Just presence. Old and deep and settled.
'That old man is back,' I thought.
Beside me Victor's shoulders had changed. Pulled in slightly. Tighter than usual.
He felt it too.
Not surprising.
Braham Faust. Archlord. One level below the absolute ceiling of mortal power. The rung above Archlord didn't have a mortal name because what lived there wasn't mortal anymore.
I had met him once before. and I remember clearly.
And Victor who knew him long before me knows this better.
How Terrifying an Archmage can be.
"He's inside," I said.
