The damp, heavy scent of mildew and iron permeated the air inside Lyra’s secret warehouse. Situated in the shadows of Astraia’s industrial district, the limestone building appeared unremarkable from the outside, but its interior was a vault of high-stakes secrets. Rows of crates stacked to the ceiling contained the newest iterations of Essence-conductive crossbows and refined mineral alloys that made Astraia’s military a force of the future. Constantine walked through the narrow aisles, his boots clicking rhythmically against the stone floor. He stopped as he reached a central clearing where Lyra stood, her face a mask of restrained fury and deep disappointment.
"I expected better of my own blood," Lyra said, her voice trembling as she looked at the man kneeling before her.
"Greed is a
