Under the pavilion

Four massive stone pillars rose from the corners of a wide platform built upon a foundation of ancient rubble, supporting a beautifully crafted roof made of overlapping dark tiles.

The pavilion had no walls, leaving its sides completely open to the surrounding forest, while a waist-high stone railing bordered the platform and provided a place for those inside to lean against.

A gentle breeze flowed naturally through the open structure, passing between the pillars and carrying the cool scent of the dark forest beneath the tiled roof.

Within the pavilion, twelve individuals could be seen scattered across the structure. Some stood beside the pillars, others sat along the broad stone railing surrounding the platform, while several remained deeper within the shadows, their appearances partially concealed by the dimness beneath the roof.

For a moment, nobody spoke.