[Elora]
The aftermath of the Blood Moon Hunt still hung heavy in the air, a metallic tang of residual magic and recent conflict. I felt it as a low hum beneath my heightened senses, a ghost of the chaos that had nearly claimed me. Vernon’s confession—the stark truth of his blood now mingled with mine, the terrifying possibility of losing my witch essence—still echoed in my mind, a chilling undercurrent to my miraculous recovery.
But there was no time for contemplation. Vernon and Sylas had brought me here, to the War Room deep in Ravenfell Manor, and as I stepped across the threshold, I understood I was no longer a bystander.
The cavernous space, usually bustling with everyday town business, was now lit by flickering sconces, casting long, dramatic shadows that danced with the weight o
