The soft glow of a bedside lamp cast warm shadows across the opulent room. Nicolau Silva lay beside his wife, Isabella, the sounds of their child's distant giggles drifting in from the adjoining room. The adrenaline of the past day, the shocking revelations, had slowly receded, replaced by a profound, unsettling peace. He turned to Isabella, tracing the curve of her jaw with his thumb.
"Something's different about you, Nicolau," Isabella murmured, her voice laced with concern. "You're… quieter. And your eyes. There's a fire in them I haven't seen in years."
Nicolau smiled faintly. "I met a man today, Isabella. A very powerful man. More powerful than anyone I've ever encountered. He showed me things… things that will change everything." He reached for a small, velvet pouch he'd placed on the nightstand. "I want you to have this."
