Outside, beyond the thick walls of Graymoor, the Great Desolation howled, burying the city in gray ash. Inside Krainwald’s throne room, known as the Throne beyond the Threshold, a heavy, oppressive silence reigned. Reagan von Meltzer stood by a high window, hands clasped behind his back. His silvery-white hair spilled over his shoulders like cold silk, and the gaze of his fiery amber eyes was fixed on the impenetrable gloom.

The last few months had turned into an endless race against time. Ever since his sister Alisa—whose legs had been crippled by their mad father—saw "the only hope" in a prophetic trance, Reagan had known no rest. He had dispatched the Hunters to every corner of the dying world, ordering them to search for one whose identifying marks seemed impossible. Subjects whispered in the shadows of the columns, fearful and hopeful all at once: was the necromancer-king truly seeking salvation, or merely a new sacrifice?

The heavy oak doors swung open with a crash. A group of Hunters, led by the stern Tarven Droule, brought a figure in travel-worn clothing into the hall. The stranger’s face was partially hidden, and their hands were bound in anti-magic chains that clinked in time with their uneven steps. Guards lined the walls, and the few courtiers present, including the fawning Minister Rental, leaned forward. Alisa, seated in her chair to the right of the throne, suddenly straightened, her pale fingers gripping the armrests.

Reagan turned slowly. His steps were silent as he began to descend toward the uninvited guest. The Hunters parted. The King approached the captive closely, paying no mind to their fear or exhaustion. Reaching out with a black-gloved hand, he tilted the stranger's chin upward, forcing them to raise their head. Alisa let out a soft, jagged breath—she recognized the very features from her nightmares.

"So, it is you," Reagan’s voice rang out as a quiet, emotionless echo that seemed to freeze the very air. "So much blood has been spilled to find you in that wasteland. I hope my trust in my sister is justified; otherwise, your life will end within these walls faster than a candle flickers out."