Steel rang against stone as Ardenthal soldiers poured into the chamber. Their captain pushed forward through the narrow doorway, eyes wide at the sight before him. The glowing summoning circle still burned faintly on the wall, and Eron stood directly in front of Kael, his posture protective despite having just stumbled through divine light.
“Stand down,” the captain ordered his men, though uncertainty edged his voice.
No one lowered their weapons. Kael remained still behind Eron, he did not reach for power, he did not step forward, he watched.
Eron’s breathing steadied.“I did not come here to fight,” he said clearly.
The captain’s gaze flicked between the two of them.“You appeared in restricted territory through unauthorized magic,” the captain replied. “That qualifies as aggression.”
