Simon Riley, the Emperor’s chief strategist, was a man of war—calculating, ruthless, and feared. His cold intellect shaped battlefields, his presence commanded respect. Clad in dark, intricately embroidered robes befitting his high station, he carried an air of quiet menace. A heavy cloak draped over his broad shoulders, and at his side, a ceremonial sword gleamed. But it was the skull mask—an eerie, unyielding visage—that struck fear into those who dared meet his gaze. A ghost in the palace.