The victory over the Silent Hand should have been a moment of triumph. But as Ethan stood in the council chamber, looking at the faces of the leaders gathered before him, he knew that the battle was far from over. The Silent Hand had been defeated, but their leader's final words echoed in his mind.
"You think you've saved the world. You've only made it weaker."
The words had burrowed into his consciousness like a splinter, festering with each passing day. He had seen the fear in the people's eyes, the doubt that lingered beneath the surface of their hope. The Silent Hand had been defeated, but the fear that had created them still lingered.
"You're brooding again," Ava said, appearing in the doorway of his chambers. "I can always tell when you're brooding. You get that look on your face
