Chapter 72
Rivara’s POV
The grand hall of the Elders’ Chamber loomed before me, its towering stone pillars bathed in the golden glow of flickering torches. The air smelled of aged parchment, incense, and power—the kind of power that had ruled our world for centuries, unmoving, unquestioned.
But tonight, I intended to question it.
No—tonight, I intended to tear it apart.
My steps echoed against the marble floor, each one sharp, deliberate, a declaration of defiance. The flickering torchlight cast elongated shadows against the towering stone pillars, warping them into specters that seemed to watch my every move. But I didn’t waver. I didn’t hesitate.
The guards flanking the massive doors straightened at my approach, their hands instinctively drifting toward the hilts of their weapons.
