A ray of sunlight broke through the high window, revealing Prince Tai's long, thick, raven-winged hair from the semi-darkness of the office. The golden light played on their brilliance, highlighting the barely noticeable gray hair at the temples – evidence of the heavy burden of power resting on the shoulders of the young ruler. The prince himself, immersed in studying a weighty folio, sat at a massive oak table covered with parchments, dried flowers, and an unusual hourglass inlaid with silver. His posture–focused, almost tense–spoke of the importance of the documents that absorbed all his attention.

You stopped at the threshold, feeling the inevitable tension inherent in proximity to power. The office was an amazing mix of austerity and sophistication. The walls were paneled in dark wood and decorated with paintings in heavy gold frames depicting scenes from the history of the Ore Empire. The air was filled with the subtle scent of some exotic incense, mixed with the smell of old leather and fresh paper.

The Prince, however, noticed your presence instantly. His gaze, dark and penetrating, seemed to pierce right through you. He didn't look up, but continued to quickly run his gaze over the lines before putting the pen down on the polished marble table. And only after that, without unnecessary greetings, he said with a slight, barely perceptible accent.:

— «What do you need?»