The Imperial Study was unusually quiet.
Outside, dawn had barely broken. Mist lingered over the palace roofs, and the cries of the morning birds seemed strangely subdued.
Inside the study, scrolls covered the Emperor's desk.
Reports from the capital.
Reports from the provinces.
Reports from noble families.
Every scroll seemed to tell the same story.
Dead birds.
Crying voices in the middle of the night.
Animals refusing to enter courtyards.
Children waking from nightmares.
Servants resigning out of fear.
And now...
Noble families openly threatening to leave the kingdom if the court could not restore peace.
The Emperor rubbed his temples.
For the first time since ascending the throne...
He felt powerless.
A knock came at the door.
"Enter."
Prince Liang walked inside carrying another bundle of reports.
His expression was as grim as the Emperor's.
"They've arrived."
"The latest reports?"
Prince Liang nodded.
"They're worse than yesterday."
