The door to Nidhogg's house slammed shut behind them with a low, heavy sound, instantly drowning out the distant hum of mana currents coursing through the Original Realm. The interior remained exactly as it had been the last time Kael had been there. The walls, made of living black wood, still pulsed slowly with golden lines of primordial energy, while the entire room remained illuminated by that constant bluish light that seemed to emanate from the very dimension surrounding it. The air was warm, heavy, and charged with enough mana to render any human mage unconscious after a few minutes.
Elion was already inside.
Seated on one of the central sofas.
Waiting.
Kael immediately noticed that she didn't seem furious in her usual explosive way. In fact, it was much worse. His mother was simply tired. The kind of profound tiredness that only comes after a day that was emotionally too disastrous even for someone like her to manage properly.
