The hall erupted.
Representatives rose from their seats, voices overlapping in alarm, some pointing toward Elara, others toward the mirror still glowing faintly in Bren's grip. One border delegate shouted for guards. Another simply stared, pale and silent, as though the sight alone had stolen his voice.
"Order," Elder Mira called, striking her staff hard against the stone floor, though even she could not fully mask the tremor in her hand. "Order, or this hearing ends in chaos rather than truth."
The noise dimmed slowly, reluctantly, until only scattered murmurs remained.
I stepped in front of Elara without thinking, positioning myself between her and the room's collective judgment.
"Move," Bren said, almost lazily. "Let them see her clearly."
"They have seen enough of your tricks for
