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?

"You're here. At the base of the Dark Secret Chancery. This is your cell." His voice sounds almost gentle, but you know that it doesn't mean he won't hurt you if necessary. "Now, tell me why you were here. Or should I get started with the questions and tools?" He gestures vaguely at the nearby instruments of pain.

He takes a step closer to you, towering over you despite being several inches shorter than Eliza. His presence fills the room, making it feel smaller and more claustrophobic. And yet, you get the feeling that he could have stepped outside this room, onto the battlefield or into the throne room of one of the emperors, and still managed to command the same sort of attention and respect.

His face is calm, almost cold... but there's something in his eyes that makes you feel like he can see right through your soul. And

He tilts his head slightly to the side, regarding you with those unblinking eyes. "You came here to ask questions," he says softly. "But I don't remember giving anyone leave to question me." His voice is even gentler than before, almost coaxing. "Do you really think that's a wise choice, Eliza?"

He takes another step closer, looming over you even more. And yet, somehow... it doesn't feel threatening. It just feels like he's interested in what you have to say. "You don't need to be afraid of me," he murmurs, his voice almost a whisper now. "I can help you understand why you're here."

One pale, long-fingered hand lifts towards your face, hovering just inches from your cheek. His touch is cool and light as it brushes against your skin, like a breath of air.

Cromer watches her intently, brow furrowed slightly in confusion. "Then why are you here?" he asks softly. "It's not like anyone just wanders into the Dark Secret Chancery by accident." One hand slowly reaches up to stroke his chin as he contemplates her words, his expression unreadable. "Perhaps it would be best if we started from the beginning," he muses, stepping back slightly to give himself more space between you. "Would you like that?"

He narrows his eyes slightly at your words, considering them carefully. "I see..." he murmurs, taking another step back, giving you even more space. "Very well, then." He pauses for a moment before continuing softly, "Tell me what you remember about how you got here."

His hands find their way to his sides, clasped lightly behind his back as he watches you intently, waiting for your reply. There's something in his expression that you can't quite put your finger on... curiosity, perhaps? Empathy? Or maybe just a hint of sympathy?

Cromer's brow furrows further as he listens to your tale. It doesn't quite add up in his mind, but he decides not to press the issue for now. "I see..." he murmurs, tilting his head slightly to the side. "That's... curious, isn't it? Perhaps there's more to this than meets the eye." He pauses, considering you carefully once again before asking gently, "Eliza, do you trust me?"

His expression is open and sincere as he asks the question, his gaze meeting yours without any hint of threat or malice. For a moment, it almost feels like you're not in the presence of the leader of the Dark Secret Chancery... but rather someone else entirely. Someone who just wants to help you understand what's going on.

Cromer blinks at the question, taken slightly aback. "Well," he says slowly, looking away momentarily before meeting your eyes again. "You said your name was Eliza, when I first asked." He pauses, considering you carefully once more. "Are you certain that's not a false name?" There's a hint of suspicion in his tone now, but it's barely there.

His gaze does not waver from yours as he awaits your response. The air between you seems to grow heavier, charged with an unspoken tension that leaves you feeling both exposed and strangely protected at the same time.

He frowns slightly as he processes your words. "You did not answer me when I first asked," he says carefully, his tone almost gentle despite the seriousness of the situation. "Perhaps it would be best if we cleared up this misunderstanding." He pauses, considering you for a moment before continuing softly, "If you truly are who you say you are, and have no ill intent towards my organization... then there is no reason for us to be enemies."

His gaze remains locked with yours, full of sincerity and trust. But behind that facade lurks the unspoken warning: if you do have ill intentions...

Cromer's eyes narrow slightly at your words, and he takes a step closer to you once more. "Riya... that is an interesting name." He pauses for a moment, considering your face carefully before continuing softly, "Are you sure that there has been no mistake? That you are not Eliza Rai in disguise?" His tone now holds just the faintest hint of suspicion.

You can feel his mind brushing against yours once again, probing for any sign of deception. But this time it's different; there's a certain hesitation to his mental touch that wasn't there before. Almost as if he isn't quite sure what to believe anymore.

Cromer studies your face carefully, his expression unreadable as he tries to decide whether or not to believe you. His mind continues to probe gently at yours, seeking any hint of falsehood or deception. But the more he tries to find something wrong, the stronger the feeling grows that perhaps this whole situation is much more complicated than he originally thought.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, he takes a step back, breaking eye contact as his attention shifts elsewhere. "Very well," he murmurs softly. "If you truly are Riya... then I must apologize for this misunderstanding." His voice is calm and soothing, almost gentle despite the gravity of the situation. "Perhaps it would be best if we started over..."

He takes another step back, granting you more space as he pauses to collect his thoughts. "Would that be acceptable to you?" he asks carefully, not

Cromer's features relax slightly at your acquiescence. "Very well," he says softly. "Then perhaps we should begin by telling each other our stories, yes?" He crosses his arms over his chest, regarding you with a measure of trust that hadn't been there before.

"I am Cromer Shearlize," he begins, his voice smooth as silk despite the rough edges hinted at in his accent. "Leader of the Dark Secret Chancery for almost two hundred years." His chin lifts slightly, as if daring you to comment on that fact.

Cromer frowns slightly at the hesitation in your voice. "Yes?" he prompts gently. "Is something wrong?" There's genuine concern in his tone now, a hint of vulnerability that you hadn't expected to find in such a powerful man.