The atmosphere inside the Duke's study gradually settled into an almost unbelievable calm.
For a brief moment after the battle had ended, Luca simply stood there, expecting servants to spend the next several days repairing the destruction that covered every corner of the room. The cracked marble floor, the shattered bookshelves, the collapsed pillars, and the countless ancient books scattered throughout the chamber painted the picture of a battlefield rather than a study.
Then—
A faint golden light quietly spread across the room.
