Kaela’s forces fanned out at the corridor entrance—a dozen Branch A battle-mages with hands glowing with containment spells, twice as many Branch B guards with leveled crossbows. Kaela stood at the front, her expression triumphant and disgusted as she took in the dissolved Geas-Keepers and the flickering vision wall.
“Sir Alaric,” she said, her voice dripping with formal ice. “Your renegade operation has triggered a catastrophic arcane event. By emergency decree, authority here reverts to the Arcane Oversight branch. You will stand down.”
Alaric didn’t move. Lightning danced faintly in his palms. “This is a Grey Operations site. The threat was neutralized under my command. Your authority does not supersede mine in an active sanctum.”
“The ‘active’ part seems concluded,” Kaela snapped, g
