The hall had no walls, only stairs, ten thousand of them climbing into a sky of molten gold script. Every step wore a glowing number, the digits shrinking toward a summit where one blazing zero waited for them.
Ruvan stood on that zero, one hand pressed to his chest, the other holding a pen-needle that dripped light.
His softness was gone from his face now, replaced by something patient, ancient and entirely unlike him.
"I apologise for that," he said. "The first plea was mine, the second I am not permitted."
"Brother?" Didi whispered.
"Little sister, you should not be here, it is going to hurt."
"You apologise before every cruelty, it's a filthy habit," Hajin called up the stairs, rolling his shoulders.
[Stream]
[Status: ON]
[Viewers: 13,700]
[Soul Energy: 85]
[CringeSlayer91: why is the staircase looking at me]
[ashley(mod): he's standing on a zero, that's the whole villain, I'm scared]
