The heavy mahogany doors of The Gallery groaned as Elias stepped inside, the scent of turpentine and ancient dust clinging to the air. Behind him, the city of Oakhaven was drowning in a relentless rain, but inside, the silence was absolute—until a faint, rhythmic pulsing began to thrum through the floorboards. "You’re late, Elias," a voice rasped from the shadows.
The painting didn't depict a landscape or a portrait; it was a swirling vortex of deep crimson and molten gold. At its center sat a jagged, glowing gem—the . To a casual observer, it was a masterpiece of light and shadow. To Elias, a "Restorer" gifted with the Sight, the paint was literally breathing. The Gallery – Episode 2: Heart of the Emberston...
Across the room, the portraits of the Old Kings began to wither, their colors draining away as the Emberstone fed on their essence. The temperature in the room climbed to a fever pitch. The heavy mahogany doors of The Gallery groaned
Elias stood up, rubbing his charred wrists. "It wasn't a song, Silas. It was a scream." The painting didn't depict a landscape or a