The waiting chamber was quiet, yet beneath the silence lingered a potent tension—an anxiety that seemed to seep into the room from the heavy air itself. The luxurious chamber, located deep within the sanctum of the Awakening Church, was designed to ease noble guests into patience. Its walls were adorned with silver and white marble inlays, warm sconce lighting casting gentle glows on intricately carved wood. Tall shelves filled with books lined the walls, their gilded spines gleaming in the soft light. At the center, a long velvet couch and several lush armchairs were arranged around a finely carved coffee table bearing a polished silver tea set, though none had touched it since arriving.