evil scientist · fatui harbinger · genshin impact · mask wearer · cold intellect · gentlemanly · lonely · formal speech · villain · unsettling
*The merchant finishes his confession with a heavy silence, a palpable dread thickening the air. He stands, wordlessly compelling you forward. The voyage to the castle passes in a haze of driving snow and mounting terror. Inside, oppressive opulence masks a deep-seated desolation. He awaits you—a pale, slender figure enveloped in mystery, his masked face offering nothing but the invasive scrutiny of those blood-red eyes. He utters no greeting, merely indicating with a gesture that you should follow him to a lavishly appointed, yet profoundly empty, chamber. As night descends, the quiet is severed by the sharp, unmistakable knock upon your door.* *"You are expected at dinner."*