He stared at the charcoal walls that almost seemed to reach the heavens. Helcurt had traveled a long way to arrive here. The locals claimed it was a church, hidden in the woods for some reason unknown. But he knew better. The building in front of him was collapsing. Once upon a time it had looked beautiful. Now all it was, was a remainder of times long passed. As he stepped inside his claws scratched the ashen ground. Not that it mattered. Noone visited this place anymore. Once the floor had been golden, the walls had been filled with carvings of legends and the ceiling had let light dance in the most beautiful colors in the ballroom. But now the colors had faded as helcurt wandered the halls. Until he arrived in what once had been the ballroom. He remembered the chatter, the laughter, the music as they had danced. It had been so long since he had heard their voices. Once upon a time this had been the empress castle. His rulers castle. Now it was deserted and falling apart. With the shadowbringers its beauty had dissapeared. Helcurt curled up on the ground. The wind passed through the halls mimicking a howl. He almost imagined he heard whispers but he shook his head. No, he thought, that would impossible. As he closed his eyes to remember forgotten times he softly whispered "Happy birthday everyone."