Novel Bin
Chapter 31: A Tour of Shadows and Steel
As the massive stone doors of the mountain fortress rumbled shut behind them, a deep silence settled over the Grand Hall. The enchanted chandelier of crystal lightstones cast a soft glow over the obsidian walls, reflecting off the silver inlays that traced elegant designs across the towering pillars.
Sophie was still spinning in circles, trying to take everything in.
“This isn’t a house,” she muttered again, her voice filled with disbelief. “This is a damn castle.”
Garrick, arms crossed over his broad chest, let out a low whistle. “Not bad, kid. Not bad at all. Gotta admit, I was half-expecting some cave with a bedroll and a firepit. But this? This is royalty-level.”
Seraphis smirked, stepping forward as her boots echoed against the polished black stone floor. “I don’t do things half-measured.”
She gestured for them to follow.
“Come on. Let’s start the tour.”
The Grand Hall – A Fortress of Darkness and Beauty
The Grand Hall was the heart of the fortress, a massive chamber stretching over a hundred feet long and sixty feet high. The ceiling was reinforced with steel supports, the walls embedded with protective runes to prevent magical attacks.
At the far end, an elevated throne made of black stone and silver filigree overlooked the entire chamber. It was flanked by two large banners, each depicting a dragon’s claw grasping a dagger—her personal emblem.
Sophie hesitated. “Wait… do you actually have a throne?”
Seraphis shrugged. “It came with the place.”
Garrick snorted. “No it didn’t. You built this place.”
Seraphis smirked but didn’t argue.
She ran her hand along the stone-carved railing that lined the second-floor balcony overlooking the hall. “I designed this place for more than just myself. Eventually, I plan to have people working here. Maybe an assassin network. Maybe an underground operation. For now… it’s just me.”
Garrick raised an eyebrow. “An assassin guild inside a mountain fortress? That’s bold.”
Seraphis chuckled. “That’s why it’ll work.”
She continued walking, leading them through the archways that branched off from the hall.
“Follow me. There’s more.”
The Living Quarters – A Hundred Hidden Chambers
They passed through a massive iron door and entered a corridor lined with identical doors.
“This is the living quarters,” Seraphis explained, tapping a stone panel on the wall. A hidden mechanism activated, causing the torches lining the hallway to burst into soft blue flames. “There are 200 rooms in total. Some are simple, some are designed for higher-ranking members… whenever I get them.”
Sophie ran her fingers along the door closest to her. “Are they all empty?”
Seraphis nodded. “For now. But if I ever decide to build something bigger than myself, I want my people to have a place to live that’s secure and hidden.”
Garrick scoffed. “You’re planning ahead, I see.”
Seraphis smirked. “Always.”
She pushed open one of the doors, revealing a fully furnished bedroom with a massive bed, a polished wooden desk, and a small fireplace. The walls were lined with bookshelves, and the floor was covered in a thick woven rug.
Sophie stepped inside. “It’s… actually cozy. I expected something more… prison-like.”
Seraphis shrugged. “I might be an assassin, but I’m not an animal.”
The Training Grounds – A Battlefield Beneath the Mountain
Leaving the living quarters behind, Seraphis led them to a massive arena-like chamber deeper within the fortress.
The training ground.
The second they stepped inside, the air changed. The space was enormous, at least twice the size of the Grand Hall, with reinforced steel beams supporting the ceiling and magical barriers lining the walls to withstand heavy combat.
Dummies in full armor stood in neat rows, their bodies enchanted to simulate real combat. Weapons of every kind were displayed on racks—swords, daggers, bows, throwing knives, crossbows, and even spears.
In the far corner, a massive archery range was set up, with moving targets shifting at different speeds.
Sophie whistled. “This is a full-fledged war camp.”
Seraphis nodded. “I train here every morning. There’s enough space for multiple people to spar at once. When I bring in recruits, they’ll have everything they need to become deadly.”
Garrick walked over to a set of throwing daggers, testing their weight in his hands. “You really are planning for an army.”
Seraphis smirked. “Not an army. But a network. A shadow force no one will see coming.”
The Smithing and Herbalist Chambers – The Heart of Craft and Survival
Next, they moved into the smithing area.
The chamber was built directly into the stone, with massive furnaces lining the walls, powered by fire magic runes. The air was thick with the scent of metal, coal, and oil.
Anvils, workbenches, and weapon molds filled the space. A series of vents lined the ceiling, allowing smoke to escape.
Sophie was astonished. “You have a fully functional blacksmithing workshop inside a mountain?”
Seraphis nodded. “Weapons need to be maintained. I won’t rely on outsiders for my gear.”
On the other side of the chamber, another section was dedicated to herbalism and alchemy. Shelves were stocked with dried herbs, glass vials, and ingredients for potions. A small cauldron bubbled over a controlled flame.
“This is where I make my own poisons,” Seraphis explained. “I don’t like using store-bought mixtures. Too easy to trace.”
Sophie shuddered. “You are way too prepared for murder.”
Seraphis smirked. “That’s the job.”
The Kitchen – A Feast for an Army
The kitchen was surprisingly massive, with long wooden tables, massive iron stoves, and hanging racks filled with spices and meats.
Sophie raised an eyebrow. “Why do you have a kitchen big enough to feed an army?”
Seraphis shrugged. “If I ever expand, I don’t want my people starving.”
Garrick grinned. “So, when’s dinner?”
Seraphis rolled her eyes. “When you start pulling your weight.”
The Office – A Place of Shadows and Strategy
The final stop was Seraphis’s personal office.
Unlike the grand throne room or the battle-scarred training grounds, the office was more personal.
A massive blackwood desk stood in the center, covered in maps, contracts, and coded messages. A bookshelf lined with journals and tomes took up the far wall. The rug underfoot was woven with intricate patterns, and a single dagger rested on the desk.
Sophie walked inside, eyeing the maps. “You really have a whole operation running here, don’t you?”
Seraphis smirked. “Just getting started.”
Garrick folded his arms. “So, what now? What’s your endgame?”
Seraphis looked at them both, her white eyes gleaming.
“Now?” She leaned against the desk, a sharp smile forming.
“Now, I build something unstoppable.”
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