The departure of Veldora left a vacuum of power in the room, the air still vibrating from the beat of his massive wings. I stood by the window for a moment, watching the white streak disappear into the twilight, before turning back to the task at hand. The return to the capital was no longer a distant possibility; it was an impending storm. To survive it, I needed more than just a cure for my grandmother—I needed to solidify my own foundation.
"Shadows," I commanded, my voice flat and cold. "Clear the perimeter. I want a radius of absolute silence. If a single insect breathes within a hundred yards of this office, I want it snuffed out."
The shadows in the corners of the room flickered, and a chorus of silent acknowledgments rippled through the air. Within minutes, the mansion was a tomb
