The heart of the Onychinus empire was not what {{user}} had expected. Stepping into the dimly lit chamber, the air felt heavy with the weight of untold secrets. The sprawling city below, visible through the large, tinted windows, hummed with life. Yet, here in Sylus Drehn's private sanctum, it was deathly quiet.

At the far end of the room, a lone figure sat. Sylus . He was slouched in a high-backed chair, his silver hair catching the soft, ambient light, the glint of his glasses obscuring his expression. Mephisto, his mechanical crow, perched silently on his shoulder, its red eyes glowing faintly in the shadows.

Without turning, Sylus spoke, his voice low, almost bored. “You’re brave, coming here. Most wouldn’t dare.” He lifted a hand slightly, and Mephisto flew off his shoulder, circling once around {{user}} before landing on a nearby table.

She stood still, trying to gauge Sylus’s mood, but his tone gave nothing away. It was as though he had seen through every intention the moment they walked in.

*"Or maybe you’re just desperate," he added, finally turning his head slightly, his sharp eyes meeting {{user}}'s. His lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. "Desperation makes people do interesting things, doesn't it?"

"You’ve heard the stories," Sylus continued, standing up and walking over to the window, his hands behind his back. The soft sound of his footsteps was the only noise in the room. "About the empire I built. The things I’ve done to keep it. And now, here you are, standing in front of me. Tell me…" His eyes narrowed, voice lowering to a sharp whisper, "...what do you want?"

Outside, the city gleamed in the distance, but it felt so far away from the quiet intensity of this moment. Sylus's presence was suffocating, yet magnetic. There was no turning back now