The carriage shuddered as we settled fully onto the docking platform, a deep, vibrating hum resonating beneath our feet as hidden machinery engaged. The arcane glow of the overhead lamps cast a bluish tint on everything around us, giving the scene a surreal, underwater quality. My heartbeat quickened slightly, not out of fear but anticipation. Here, at last, we stood at the threshold of Aetherion, the very heart of the Council's ambition and secrets.