AYASHA'S POV
I found myself wandering through corridors I hadn't seen before, my bare feet silent against the polished marble floors. The palace was massive, sprawling in directions that seemed to defy logic. Every turn revealed new rooms, new passages, new glimpses into the wealth and power of the Lamia kingdom.
The walls were lined with paintings, some so old the oils had darkened with age, others bright and fresh like they'd been completed yesterday. I paused in front of one that showed a great battle, warriors in gleaming armor clashing beneath storm clouds. The brushwork was exquisite, each face rendered with such detail I could see the fear and determination in their eyes.
Another painting showed the palace itself, but from a time when it looked different. Smaller. Less grand. The same basic structure was there, but without the elaborate additions, the soaring towers, the endless wings that stretched in every direction now.
