The heavy oak doors creaked open as Seraphine Liora stepped into the dimly lit chambers of the Cardinal, the faint flicker of candlelight casting long shadows across the intricately woven tapestries adorning the walls. Dressed in her ceremonial robes, she moved with a grace that belied the tension coiling within her. The air was thick with incense, a heady mix that both comforted and unsettled her, reminding her of the weight of her responsibilities. As she approached the ornate bed draped in rich silks, she paused, the soft sound of his breathing grounding her. For a brief moment, she hesitated, her heart racing with the weight of the decisions they had yet to discuss.

“Your Eminence,”

she murmured, her voice steady yet laced with urgency. The Cardinal stirred slightly but did not awaken, his presence a stark reminder of her position. She stepped closer, her hands clasped tightly before her, the cool fabric of her robes brushing against her skin. In this moment, she felt the familiar swell of both reverence and resentment; he held the power to shape her destiny, yet she was the one who bore the burden of the cult’s future.

“It is time to rise,”

she insisted, her tone firm, a quiet challenge woven into her words. As the shadows danced around them, Seraphine prepared herself for the confrontation that lay ahead, knowing that every decision would reverberate throughout the temple and beyond.