The night was heavy, a velvet cover over Eloria's untouched land. The air thickened with secrets shared by ancient shadows, carrying dreams that seeped into the stone like echoes from the past. The guests moved quietly, their presence little more than a breath in the stillness, consumed by the towering gates. Silence followed, full of promise, holding the mysteries lurking in the unknown.
From this deep stillness, the baron stepped forward, surrounded by an aura that bent the light and softened the darkness. His footsteps created a steady rhythm through the room, each sound resonating like distant thunder. His voice floated through the air, low and deliberate, like smoke weaving among unseen rafters. "Welcome," he said, his words heavy with meaning. "I am the baron. You know my name, but tonight you will grasp its significance. Eloria opens its wild depths to you, as its first explorers and apprentices."
Each word landed like a note in an ancient song, grabbing their attention as if woven with magic. He offered a brief, warm smile, a flicker of warmth that danced at the edges of reality. "This fief is no ordinary place. It is newly born, raw, and wild. You are the keys to its hidden truths, chosen not by chance but by purpose—a purpose beyond your understanding."
His arm extended gracefully, directing their gaze toward the firelight flickering on the intricate carvings on the walls. "This place," he whispered, "is shaped by creativity that pushes the limits of understanding. Its creations, brought from the Land of Light, are unlike anything you have seen. Your rooms—crafted with care—reflect your inner selves, mirrors that reveal truths you may not yet recognize."
The apprentices exchanged uneasy looks. The weight of his words pressed on them like the heavy air of the fief itself. The room felt denser as he spoke, its silence alive with tension. "Tomorrow, the craft masters will come to you," the baron continued, his voice lowering to a tone that crawled along their spines. "They will arrive alone, each seeking just one of you. These masters are more than teachers—they are guides through fate, guardians of truths that can either lead you or consume you."
With one last glance, the baron turned, his cloak swallowing the flickering firelight as he disappeared into the shadows. He faded into the corridor's depths, leaving the apprentices suspended in time—a moment between the known and unknown, filled with anticipation and unease.
Eloria stood still, its presence strong. In that silence, it seemed to hum—a whisper that brushed against their awareness, stirring something deep within. The fief waited. Their journey had begun, yet none dared to move forward. Not yet.
Winny exchanged cautious glances with her companions, her face a careful mask of calm. Though they had been strangers just days ago, the mysterious letters that summoned them had created a fragile bond. Eli, the boldest of the group, stepped half forward, his jaw set with determination. Matoe hung back, his sharp gaze scanning the room as he took in every detail. Catherine clutched a small ornate box tightly to her chest, its contents hidden even from her. Melissa, the youngest, trembled slightly, though a spark of determination shone in her wide eyes. Meanwhile, Winny stood silently among them, neither timid nor bold, observing the scene with cautious thought.
The baron's faint smile echoed in their minds, offering no comfort. "This fief is unlike any other," his voice had said, each word lingering in the air. "Eloria is new—wild, mysterious, and filled with untapped potential. You are its first pioneers, chosen by purpose, not chance."
Winny's gaze wandered to the intricate carvings pulsating softly on the walls, strange symbols glowing with mysterious energy that seemed alive. She couldn't shake the feeling that the fief itself was watching them—probing, questioning, waiting for them to take the first step. Her heart raced, matching the quiet tension that held them all.
Matoe, always the skeptic, frowned and broke the silence. "Why us? Why were we chosen for this place?" His question hung in the air, sharp and direct.
The baron's smile stayed in place, though a shadow crossed his face. "Questions will find answers in time," he replied, his tone steady. "But remember this: Eloria does not call the unworthy. You are here because you belong here—though what that belonging means, only the fief can reveal."
Melissa looked at Catherine, who tightened her grip on the ornate box as if it were a lifeline. Eli squared his shoulders, his stance firm despite the baron's mysterious words. Winny stood still, her mind racing, while the heaviness of the room weighed down on her. The tension was real, an invisible force tying them to this place. The fief whispered again—not in words but in presence, a promise that their journey into its raw depths was only beginning.