The palace of eternal flames rose like a beacon of light in the night. Blue fire lanterns cast reflections on the walls and polished floor, making every gesture, every movement, seem part of a sacred ritual. That night, the palace was filled with ambassadors and nobles from distant kingdoms, who presented themselves with calculated steps, precise bows and practiced smiles. Their eyes scanned the hall with respect and curiosity, looking for signs of power and weakness.
Jin Long remained motionless, his ceremonial armor gleaming under the light, his countenance a wall of ice and authority. Each breath was measured; each movement, contained. His eyes, golden and deep, missed no detail, and his presence imposed a silent tension upon all those present. No one dared distract him. No one dared question him.
