The far door slammed open with a force that reverberated through the hall. Lanterns flickered violently, casting long, twisting shadows across the polished floors. Lyra jumped back, clutching the edge of the counter, her pulse racing. She had seen angry souls before, but this one stormed in like a living tempest, raw and unrestrained."I am not here to be judged!" the man shouted, his voice shaking the air itself. He slammed a fist against the polished floor, sending a sharp echo bouncing across the pillars and shelves of glowing bottles. His clothes were torn, stained with dirt and sweat, his hair matted, eyes blazing with fury. "You cannot touch me! You cannot decide my fate!"Kaelen remained unmoved, upright and calm, his eyes scanning the intruder with the precision of a blade. "Every soul comes here. No exceptions. Step forward and face the truth of your life," he said, his voice steady, carrying the weight of centuries.Lyra's hands tightened at the counter. She could feel Aurel

The hall waited in silence. The lanterns glowed softly, casting long shadows that bent toward the far door. Lyra stood with her hands clasped tightly in front of her, her breath steadying. After the deceiver, whose arrogance had chilled her, she felt unprepared for whatever soul would come next. She had not yet learned how to protect her heart.The door stirred. Slowly, it opened, and a woman stepped through. She did not stumble. She did not walk with small, careful steps; her hands were folded neatly against her chest. Her face was lined with age, her hair streaked with silver, but her eyes held no bitterness. They were soft, full of the kind of tiredness that came not from anger but from a life spent giving.Lyra's throat tightened as soon as she saw her. There was something familiar about that quiet strength.Kaelen's voice was steady, though softer than usual. "You stand before the mirror. Here you will see the truth of your life."The woman inclined her head respectfully. "If tha

The door opened slowly this time. No blast of rage, no trembling hinges. Instead, a hush spread across the hall, the lanterns dimming to a cautious glow.Lyra's breath caught. After the storm of the last soul, the silence felt heavier, like a trap waiting to be sprung.A woman stepped through. She was slender, graceful, her long hair flowing around her shoulders. Her gown shimmered with a beauty that seemed out of place in the shadowed hall. Her lips curled into a soft smile, and her eyes—dark, glimmering, alive with calculation—swept across the chamber."Well," she said smoothly, her voice like silk. "What an enchanting place. So full of secrets."Lyra shivered. This woman carried no weapon, no scars, no blood. Yet something about her felt more dangerous than the killer before.Kaelen spoke, his tone as even as ever. "You stand in the Hall of Judgment. Here, the truth of your life will be revealed."The woman tilted her head, smiling wider. "Truth? My dear, the truth is whatever peop

The hall felt different the moment the door opened.It was a subtle shift, a change in the air that pressed against Lyra's skin, tight and suffocating. The lanterns flickered in sympathy, casting long, wavering shadows across the floor. She knew before she saw who had entered.A woman stepped through, tall and elegant, moving with fluid grace that seemed rehearsed. Her hair was black as midnight, falling in waves around her shoulders. Her eyes, however, drew the gaze of anyone who dared to meet them. They burned with a strange intensity, a mixture of fascination, malice, and obsession.Lyra instinctively stepped back. Her hands shook, her heart pounding against her ribcage. This was not the same kind of darkness as the killer or the liar. This was personal.Kaelen's voice cut through the tension, calm and steady. "You stand in the Hall of Judgment. Here, your life will be revealed."The woman smiled, a slow, predatory curl of her lips. "Ah, the judge," she said softly, almost tenderly

The chamber was still. The light in the great hall seemed dimmer, as though the walls themselves held their breath for the next soul.Lyra shifted uneasily at Kaelen's side. The shadowed Judge stood motionless, his presence steady, but his silence pressed on her like an unseen weight. After the chaos of the sadist before, she almost feared what would come next.Then the air stirred.A tall figure emerged from the darkness at the far end of the chamber. He walked with measured steps, his shoulders straight, his chin lifted as though he had marched this path many times before. His clothes were worn, once fine, now dulled by dust and age. A faint golden clasp at his chest hinted at royalty, though it had lost its shine.His eyes were not cruel, not twisted like those of the others who had stood here. They were weary. Haunted.Lyra's breath caught. This man was different."State your name," Kaelen said, his voice low, carrying across the chamber.The man paused, his gaze flickering up tow