[SERA — POV]
The formal hearing was held in the Warden's Council building in Veyrath's civic quarter—a neutral-enough location that neither side could claim home advantage, which was a symbolic gesture that Dorn had apparently insisted on.
This was itself historic. The first joint investigation between the Warden's Flame and the Noctis Court had no protocol, no precedent, no established procedure. They were making it up as they went, which was terrifying and also—she thought—possibly exactly the right condition for making something new.
Dorn ran the Flame side. Thessaly appeared by secure communication for the Noctis side, her image on a screen at the end of the room with that ancient patient face that took everything in and gave nothing unnecessary back.
Kael gave testimony. He was pr
