Her gaze sharpened instinctively, only to falter as it landed on a stranger, getting closer from the dark.
The man standing at the far end of the hall was equally striking. Singular. He was tall and lean, wrapped in a flowing black robe that set him apart from the other scholars dressed in white. He moved with fluid and carried a deliberate grace.
This man was a black peacock. It strutted in front of them with eerie elegance, its iridescent feathers catching flickers of crystal light, trailing darkness and shimmering with each step.
Ren's eyes lifted to the man's features. His straight hair, white streaks running through in stark contrast, shimmered like obsidian beneath the golden-orange glow. His presence demanded attention, not through force, but through the quiet weight of knowledge worn like armor.
Master Doko stopped beside her.
"Milady," he said, bowing his head slightly, "please meet Principal Arcane. He is the master of this tower."
