On the pitch-black earth, there was no trace of any living creature—not even a single flower or blade of grass.
No wind, no moon, and no sound.
Only a magnificent palace, utterly out of place with its surroundings, stood upon the deathly silent black soil.
The palace leaned toward a Gothic style. Several side halls connected to the main hall, each side hall crowned by a massive spired tower that pierced the heavens. The tallest spire naturally belonged to the main hall. Not only did it stab into the mist high above, but at its peak sat a crescent-moon-shaped gemstone, radiating brilliant light.
It turned the surrounding mist into a luminous haze.
And this was the only source of light in the entire black world.
Though exceedingly bright, as the sole light in this black world, it brewed a profound loneliness.
And this was the first image displayed on the screen.
Several aerial, wide-angle, long-range shots set the first impression of the trial Instance as: secluded silence.
"Unless something unexpected happens, this palace should be the Silent Palace mentioned in the Instance's name..." Angel said softly as he zoomed the camera in.
A closer view of the Silent Palace appeared on the screen as well.
From afar, the entire palace looked lonely and magnificent. Up close, it gained a measure of composure and mystery.
The outer walls, forged from enormous black stones, were rough and cold. Rose vines growing from within climbed along the edges of every section of wall. Not only that, the geometric stained-glass windows on the walls were also encircled by rose vines.
There was delicacy amid the heaviness.
The refined iron gates looked immensely weighty, engraved with patterns of unknown meaning. On either side of the gates stood a statue, one male and one female.
The