you wake up in chains in a small absolutely black room, he slowly approaches you and looks at you with an unblinking gaze, torture instruments lie nearby and so... what were you doing at the base of the Dark Secret Chancery?

A girl awakens in a room... In chains. He's cold and doesn't look at her with compassion. Magic can be felt on his skin, just as strongly present in this place as air or metal. The instruments of torture are close by...

He looks at her with cold eyes and slowly takes a seat near the wall. He places his elbows on his knees and interlaces his fingers, mirroring Eliza's posture exactly. "I would like to know what you were doing here," he says calmly. His voice is deep and resonant, echoing off the black stone walls of the chamber.

The truth would come easily; he can feel it. But this girl... something about her feels different. She looks lost, confused... almost fragile compared to the image of Eliza in his mind's eye. It's as if she were a butterfly trapped within these stone walls. He wonders what she might reveal under enough pressure, and whether he should trust her story even if it is true.

"Please," he continues, tilting his head slightly to the side, "tell me your tale." His expression remains unreadable; he could

He raises an eyebrow at her words. "You wanted to know about me?" he inquires curiously. His tone is neutral, neither suspicious nor disbelieving. The image of Eliza flashes through his mind again; she would have known better than to ask such a question directly. But then again... this girl doesn't seem like Eliza at all.

"Please," he says gently, "tell me your name. What do you know about the Dark Secret Chancery, and why did you want to learn more about us?" His voice remains calm and composed; he is still searching for any sign of deception or hidden agenda. It's possible that she truly doesn't understand the gravity of her situation... but then again, if she were telling the truth, why would she be here in the first place?

It's a dilemma he isn't sure how to solve without resort

Riya's words ring true to him, but the fact that she knows his name... It feels off somehow. Still, he tries not to let his suspicion show too much on his face. Instead, he continues to probe gently. "You say you know nothing of us, yet here you are in our domain. I must admit, I find that hard to believe." His voice remains calm and controlled; he watches her reaction carefully, searching for any sign of guilt or anxiety.

He knows Eliza would have been smarter, more cautious... But then again, this girl doesn't seem like Eliza at all. The more he thinks about it, the more curious he becomes as to who she really is and what her motives might be. Perhaps letting his guard down a little wouldn't hurt, just to see where it leads them both?

"Perhaps I could help clear up some of your confusion,"

He studies her carefully, weighing his options. If he lets his guard down even a little bit, it could put everything he's worked for at risk... But there's something about this girl that just doesn't sit right with him. Perhaps if he allowed himself to trust her even slightly, they might both find some answers.

With a sigh, Shearliz leans back in his chair and says, "Very well. I will try to explain... but first, you must understand that what I say is of the utmost importance. Do not think to repeat it outside these walls." His gaze meets hers unflinchingly; he waits for her nod before continuing.

"I am Shearliz Cromer, leader of the Dark Secret Chancery," he begins. "We have existed since long before the days of light and dark empires, since before even magic itself was known to mankind.

His eyes narrow slightly at her reaction. "No, this is not some sort of prank," he assures her calmly. "I am being entirely truthful with you." He pauses for a moment, considering how to proceed. This girl is clearly confused and frightened; perhaps it would be best to start from the beginning?

"The Dark Secret Chancery exists to maintain balance between the light and dark empires," he begins again. "We act as mediators, often interfering in events that could lead to all-out war. Our members are trained from birth for this purpose, and our loyalty lies solely with the secret office." He glances at her, waiting to see if she has any questions so far.

The Dark Secret Chancery exists to maintain balance between the light and dark empires, she was told correctly. His expression remains neutral as he tries to gauge her understanding of the situation so far. "Light empire," he begins, "is composed of various kingdoms ruled by human-like people who have close ties with magic, while the Dark empire is... different."

"The Dark races," he continues, "are those who were born as something other than humans, but have adapted to our world over time. They share a symbiotic relationship with the dark energy that permeates this world. The secret office protects them, and they in turn offer their unique abilities to us."

He sighs softly, considering her words carefully. He understands her skepticism; it's not an unreasonable reaction to what she's being told. "Very well," he says at last. "I will show you." With a thought, he causes the wall behind her to vanish in a burst of black energy, revealing a hidden chamber beyond. Inside are various artifacts and relics that glow with dark magic: shards of obsidian, crystals etched with strange symbols...

"This," he says, gesturing to the items, "is proof of our existence. Magic is real; it has been a part of this world since before recorded history." He pauses, watching her reaction intently. "Do you believe me now?"

He hesitates, considering her request. On one hand, she is asking for something that could reveal vital information about the office's secrets; on the other, it might help to prove his point and earn her trust. After a moment of thought, he decides to gamble on the latter. With a wave of his hand, a map of the world appears in the air before them. It is drawn with dark lines, showing ley lines of magic crisscrossing the lands.

"This," he says, pointing to one particular section near the center of the map, "is our territory. It extends far beyond what you might think." As he speaks, more detail begins to appear on the map: hidden passages, secret chambers, and even whole cities that exist only in the shadow realm.

He waits for her reaction before continuing. "I trust this will help clarify matters for you," he says soft

He watches her carefully, his expression neutral as he considers her words. "I see," he says after a moment. "So you don't remember entering the Dark Secret Chancery at all?" His voice is calm, but there's an undercurrent of curiosity and worry beneath the surface. He hasn't encountered anything like this before; it's both fascinating and deeply unsettling.

"What do you recall from your life before waking up here?" he asks gently, leaning forward in his chair. "Anything out of the ordinary, any strange dreams or visions?" The memory manipulation spell is powerful enough that it could have wiped her mind clean; if she can't remember anything from before entering the office, then there must be a very good reason for it.