Villain Ch 1769. Steel Waltz Guard
Larissa's fingers brushed over a frost-covered railing as she stepped beside Allen. "And not just watched. Studied."
The hallway stretched ahead of them, leading into a vast open chamber that pulsed with amber light. The snow trail they tracked had stopped here—because the snow had ended the moment they walked inside. The ground here was dry. Stained. Burnt.
Then… the sound.
-Click! Clank! Click! Clank!
Metal on metal. Rhythmic. Like heavy boots, or gears locking in time with each other.
From the far side of the hall, a shadow stepped forward.
No—marched.
The figure emerged into the dim light, moving like a music box ballerina made from bad dreams.
A puppet.
Not cute. Not quaint. Not Pinocchio.
